Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on Tuesday announced that the National Library Fund has so far raised N20.4 billion since its launch on September 18, 2025.
Speaking with journalists at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja, Mrs. Tinubu said donations had been pouring in and expressed optimism that more contributions would follow.
The initiative, unveiled days before her 65th birthday on September 21, seeks to complete the country’s long-delayed National Library headquarters in Abuja. The First Lady appealed to well-wishers to channel birthday gifts, cards, cakes, and congratulatory adverts into the fund, which is managed by the Ministry of Education under the Oluremi@65 Education Fund.
“This will be the best birthday present I have ever received,” she said, stressing that her passion for education informed the decision to dedicate the milestone celebration to the project.
The National Library, first proposed in 1981, has faced decades of delay. Construction began in 2006 after being awarded for N8.59 billion, with an expected completion timeline of two years. However, the 12-storey project stalled, with physical completion estimated at just 44 percent by 2023. Cost projections have since escalated to between N49.6 billion and N120 billion.
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Located between the National Mosque and the National Ecumenical Centre in Abuja, the abandoned site has long been seen as a symbol of Nigeria’s stalled infrastructure projects. In 2025, the Federal Government directed the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to resume funding and restart work.
The Nigerian Library Association has repeatedly called for urgent completion, describing the facility as vital for education, research, and cultural preservation.
Mrs. Tinubu, a former senator and education advocate, reaffirmed her commitment to ensuring the project is completed, saying it represents an enduring legacy for future generations.
