First Lady Announces N20.4bn Raised for National Library Project
Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has disclosed that the National Library Fund has so far attracted ₦20.4 billion in donations since its launch on September 18, 2025.
Speaking to journalists on Tuesday at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja, Mrs. Tinubu described the response as encouraging and expressed confidence that more contributions would be made in the coming weeks.
The initiative, unveiled just days before her 65th birthday on September 21, is aimed at completing the country’s long-abandoned National Library headquarters in Abuja. The First Lady had earlier appealed to friends, associates, and well-wishers to redirect birthday gifts, cards, cakes, and congratulatory adverts into the project’s account.
> “This will be the best birthday present I have ever received,” she said, noting that her lifelong passion for education motivated the decision to dedicate her milestone celebration to the project.
The National Library, first proposed in 1981, has suffered decades of delays. Awarded in 2006 for ₦8.59 billion, the 12-storey structure was expected to be completed within two years. However, by 2023, only about 44 percent of the work had been done. Cost projections have since ballooned to between ₦49.6 billion and ₦120 billion.
Located between the National Mosque and the National Ecumenical Centre in Abuja, the abandoned project has often been cited as a glaring example of Nigeria’s stalled infrastructure ventures. Earlier this year, the Federal Government directed the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to take over funding and revive construction.
The Nigerian Library Association has repeatedly urged the government to prioritise the completion of the project, describing it as critical for education, research, and cultural preservation.
Reaffirming her commitment, Senator Tinubu said the project must not be allowed to fail.
“It is not just a building but an enduring legacy for future generations,”
Facebook Comments