Oluremi Tinubu Denies Political Motive Behind N20bn Library Fundraiser

Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has dismissed speculation that her 65th birthday fundraiser is connected to President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid, insisting the initiative is focused solely on completing the country’s long-delayed National Library project.

Speaking to State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa on Tuesday, Mrs Tinubu revealed that the campaign has so far raised over N20.4bn in donations since its launch last Thursday. She urged Nigerians to see the effort as an opportunity to contribute to national development rather than view it through a political lens.

“Let me correct the notion moving around about this fundraising. It is not connected to anything political. So far, we have raised N20.4bn since this fund launched last week, and more are still coming,” she said.

The First Lady pointed to her history of philanthropy as proof of her long-standing commitment to public causes. She recalled raising N50m for the National Sickle Cell Foundation Centre at 45 and N200m for the New Era Foundation at 50, both of which she said made a lasting impact.

Her comments followed remarks by Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, who questioned why Nigeria should rely on birthday gifts to complete its National Library. In a post on X, Obi nonetheless wished Mrs Tinubu a happy birthday and prayed for her continued good health.

Addressing critics, the First Lady stressed that rebuilding national institutions should be a shared responsibility. “Helping to rebuild does not have a political undertone, it’s our duty as citizens to contribute meaningfully to society,” she said, adding that she had even donated to post-war school rebuilding efforts in Liberia.

She urged Nigerians to adopt a mindset of service, citing former U.S. President John F. Kennedy’s famous appeal: “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” She also referenced Isaiah 58:6, which she said has guided her lifelong passion for service.

Mrs Tinubu said the birthday account would remain open until December 2025 to receive more donations and clarified that the signatories are the Minister of Education and the Chief Librarian of the Federation, with her role limited to advocacy and mobilizing support.

The National Library headquarters project, first proposed in 1981, has been plagued by funding shortfalls and delays. Awarded in 2006 for N8.59bn and expected to be completed within two years, the 11-storey complex in Abuja remains less than 50 per cent finished nearly two decades later. Estimates to complete the project now range from N49.6bn to over N120bn.

Earlier this year, the Federal Government directed the Tertiary Education Trust Fund to take over financing and resume construction, with work scheduled to restart in June 2025 following site assessments. The Nigerian Library Association recently renewed its call for urgent completion, warning that the delay hampers education, research, and cultural preservation.

Mrs Tinubu thanked contributors to the ongoing fundraiser, including President Tinubu, Vice-President Kashim Shettima and his wife, former president Muhammadu Buhari, former first ladies, National Assembly leaders, governors and their spouses, security chiefs, and business leaders such as Aliko Dangote, Abdulsamad Rabiu, Arthur Eze, Tony Elumelu, and Jim Ovia.