Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has announced that well-wishers contributed a total of N20.4 billion towards the completion of the National Library project in Abuja as part of her 65th birthday celebration.
The disclosure was made on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, during an interactive session with State House correspondents at the Aso Rock Villa, two days after her birthday.
Turning a Birthday Into a National Project
Ahead of her birthday, Mrs. Tinubu appealed to friends and supporters to contribute to a special fund instead of sending gifts or placing paid adverts in newspapers. The funds, she explained, would be channeled into reviving the long-delayed National Library project, first initiated in 1981 under Shehu Shagari but repeatedly stalled due to budgetary constraints.
The First Lady confirmed that N20.4 billion has been raised so far, adding that the account is jointly managed by the Minister of Education and the Chief Librarian of the Federation.
“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 said.
Mrs. Tinubu stressed that the initiative was not politically motivated, recalling that she had raised funds for similar causes in the past. For her 45th birthday, she raised N50 million to complete the National Sickle Cell Foundation Centre, and for her 50th, N200 million for the New Era Foundation.
Full List of Prominent Donors
The First Lady expressed gratitude to various individuals and institutions who contributed, including:
1. Political Leaders & Former Heads of State
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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
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Vice President Kashim Shettima and his wife
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Former President Muhammadu Buhari
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Several former First Ladies
2. National Assembly Leadership
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Senate President Godswill Akpabio and his wife
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Speaker of the House of Representatives Abbas Tajudeen and his wife
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Members of the National Assembly
3. State & Security Leaders
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Nigeria Governors Forum
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Governors’ spouses
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Security chiefs and their wives
4. Business Moguls
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Aliko Dangote (Chairman, Dangote Group)
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Abdulsamad Rabiu (Chairman, BUA Group)
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Arthur Eze (Chairman, Atlas Oranto)
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Tony Elumelu (Chairman, Heirs Holdings)
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Jim Ovia (Founder, Zenith Bank)
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Other private sector leaders
A Controversial but Historic Fundraiser
While the initiative has been praised by supporters as a creative way to mobilise resources for a critical national project, it has also stirred debate over why a vital institution like the National Library depends on private donations rather than public funds.
Still, with over N20 billion raised in less than a week, Mrs. Tinubu’s birthday has become one of the most high-profile fundraising drives for a public infrastructure project in Nigeria’s history.
