Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has successfully raised over N20 billion through donations to mark her 65th birthday on September 21, 2025. In a video message earlier this month, she urged well-wishers to forgo traditional birthday gifts and instead contribute to the completion of the National Library project, a cause she holds dear.
The funds, managed by the Federal Ministry of Education under the “Oluremi at 65 Education Fund,” aim to finalize the long-delayed National Library, a project initiated during the Shehu Shagari administration. Speaking to State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, the former senator reflected on her time as a member of the Senate Committee on Education, noting the ministry’s inability to complete the library. She emphasized the significant role libraries played in her upbringing and expressed disappointment at the project’s prolonged incompletion.
Addressing criticism of her initiative, the First Lady encouraged Nigerians to adopt the mindset of former U.S. President John F. Kennedy, urging citizens to consider what they can do for their country rather than what the country can do for them. She confirmed that donations have surpassed N20 billion, with more contributions still coming in.
