From Birthday Tribute To National Treasure: First Lady Secures ₦25 Billion For Nigeria’s National Library
By NJORIGE LYNUS
IN a landmark cultural intervention, Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has raised more than ₦25 billion to accelerate the completion of the National Library project in Abuja. The fundraising effort, tied to her 65th birthday commemoration, became one of the most talked-about philanthropic campaigns of 2025, uniting stakeholders across education, entertainment, politics, business, and diaspora networks.
The First Lady disclosed the final donation figure in a statement issued on Wednesday 31 December 2025, confirming that the dedicated bank account for the initiative has now been closed permanently. She acknowledged that the initiative was not only about infrastructure, but also about reclaiming and institutionalising African street knowledge, storytelling, intellectual culture, and national memory within a home-grown archival space.
The sum raised—₦25,520,708,074.35—reflects nationwide buy-in from individual donors and organised philanthropic groups. The campaign stood out for its digital transparency, social media momentum, grassroots endorsements, and cross-generational support, according to civic engagement monitors.
For decades, the National Library project has remained unfinished despite being envisioned as Africa’s largest repository of Nigerian history, academic literature, creative arts documentation, and indigenous knowledge systems. Development economists warn that the absence of a national library has long limited research output, academic competitiveness, and historical documentation, particularly for students and scholars of African culture and post-colonial studies.
Mrs. Tinubu reiterated that the project is now under the Ministry of Education, and urged further supporters to liaise directly with the ministry for subsequent contributions or partnerships. The First Lady also used her message to call for deeper investment in literacy culture, book development, digital archives, and knowledge preservation.
She concluded by wishing Nigerians a peaceful and prosperous 2026.
