Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Nigeria’s First Lady, has dismissed allegations linking the N20.4 billion raised during her tinubu-65th-birthday-praises-akpabio-abiru/” title=”Akpabio and Abiru Celebrate Remi …'s Inspiring Journey on His 65th Birthday”>65th birthday fundraising campaign to any political motives or her husband’s anticipated 2027 re-election bid.
During a press briefing with State House journalists at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Tuesday, Mrs. Tinubu emphasized that the fundraiser’s sole purpose is to complete the long-delayed National Library project in Abuja.
“I want to clarify the misconception surrounding this fundraising effort. It is entirely apolitical. To date, we have collected N20.4 billion since the campaign began last week, and contributions are still coming in,” she affirmed.
Marking her 65th birthday on Sunday, September 21, the First Lady launched the “Oluremi@65 Education Fund” last Thursday, urging supporters to forgo traditional birthday gifts, flowers, and newspaper advertisements in favor of donations to revive the stalled National Library complex.
“Instead of sending birthday cards, cakes, flowers, or newspaper greetings, I kindly ask that donations be directed to the designated account for a project very dear to me-the completion of the National Library,” she appealed. “This would be the most meaningful birthday gift I could receive. My passion for education inspired me to dedicate this milestone to such a worthy cause.”
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The National Library project, initiated in 1981 and under construction since 2006, has faced persistent funding shortages and delays. By 2023, the 11-story building was only 44% complete, with estimated costs to finalize the project ranging from N49.6 billion to N120 billion. Earlier this year, the Federal Government transferred funding oversight to the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, with Education Minister Tunji Alausa confirming that construction would resume in June.
Reflecting on her philanthropic history, Mrs. Tinubu noted that this fundraiser aligns with her previous efforts to support national development initiatives.
“This is not my first fundraising endeavor for causes close to my heart. For my 45th birthday, I raised N50 million to complete the National Sickle Cell Foundation Centre, which is now fully operational. At 50, I mobilized N200 million for the New Era Foundation,” she shared.
Her remarks responded to recent critiques, notably from Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, who questioned the reliance on birthday donations for essential national infrastructure.
“We are finished!” Obi wrote on X in a post titled ‘We Are Finished,’ while still extending birthday wishes to Mrs. Tinubu. “I join millions of Nigerians in wishing Her Excellency, Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu, a happy birthday. May God Almighty, who has been with her all these years, grant her many more healthy, fruitful, and joyful years.”
Defending the initiative, the First Lady stressed that national progress is a collective responsibility that transcends political divides.
“What harm is there in highlighting areas that need attention and inclusion? Contributing to rebuilding efforts is not politically motivated-it is our civic duty. I have even contributed to post-conflict school reconstruction in Liberia,” she explained.
Invoking the words of former U.S. President John F. Kennedy, she encouraged Nigerians to adopt a spirit of public service:
“Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country. This principle should guide us all. As President Kennedy said, ‘Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of what divides us.'”
She also cited a biblical passage that has inspired her lifelong dedication: “Isaiah 58:6 has been a guiding light in my commitment to serving the nation.”
Mrs. Tinubu revealed that the fundraising campaign will continue until December 2025, allowing more Nigerians to participate.
She clarified that she is not an authorized signatory on the account, which is managed by the Minister of Education and the Chief Librarian of the Federation. “My role is simply to champion the fundraising efforts,” she stated.
Several prominent Nigerians have already contributed, including President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima and his wife, former President Muhammadu Buhari, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and his wife, Speaker of the House Tajudeen Abbas and his wife, alongside numerous National Assembly members, governors and their spouses, security officials, and leading business figures such as Aliko Dangote, Abdulsamad Rabiu, Arthur Eze, Tony Elumelu, and Jim Ovia.
The Nigerian Library Association has consistently advocated for the completion of the National Library, emphasizing its importance for education, research, and cultural heritage preservation. The ongoing fundraising, coordinated by the Ministry of Education, aims to finally bring this decades-old project to fruition.
