Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Remi Tinubu, has declared that her 65th birthday fundraiser for the completion of the national library project has so far realised ₦20.7 billion.
Tinubu disclosed this while hosting members of the press to a luncheon at the presidential villa, Abuja, on Tuesday.
She said the account for the initiative, tagged Oluremi@65 Education Fund, would remain open until December 2025 to accommodate more donations.
Her words: “In his 1925 essay, The New Frontier, Gebran Kalil Gebran wrote: ‘Are you a politician, asking what your country can do for you or a zealous one, asking what you can do for your country?
“If you are the first, then you are a parasite, if the second, then you are an oasis in a desert.’
“That is why if we take our baby steps in well-doing, before long, things will begin to shape up for our country. A grain of sand and a drop of water makes a mighty ocean.”
The First Lady dismissed claims that the fundraiser was politically motivated, saying it was inspired by her personal experiences as a teacher and the impact of libraries on her childhood.
She said: “What is wrong in doing well or trying to build our country? If I could assist ...-war building process in Liberia by donating the Oluremi Tinubu Elementary and Junior Secondary School in Monte Serrado County, what is wrong in drawing attention to some of the areas of need in our beloved nation?”
Tinubu recalled that she had previously raised ₦50 million for the National Sickle Cell Foundation Centre on her 45th birthday and ₦200 million for the New Era Foundation and other charities on her 50th birthday.
“I have played my part in this project, and believe Nigerians can raise the funds needed to complete the library. This is not just a project but a national treasure that will serve generations to come,” she added.
She noted that as of 2 pm on Tuesday, ₦20.4 billion had already been raised, with the tally still counting.
Tinubu said the Minister of Education and the Chief Librarian of the Federation are the signatories to the account, stressing that her role is only to mobilise support.
The First Lady also acknowledged contributions from President Bola Tinubu, Vice-President Kashim Shettima and his wife, former President Muhammadu Buhari, former First Ladies, among others.
The National Library project, which began in 1981 with an initial budget of ₦8.2 billion, has suffered decades of delays. Its cost rose to ₦23 billion as of 2023.
Tinubu said her husband’s administration is now committed to completing the project within two years.