Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has said that her appeal for donations for the completion of the National Library is not politically motivated, but was done for love.

In a statement by her spokesperson, Busola Kukoyi, on Wednesday morning, Senator Tinubu announced that her 65th birthday fundraiser towards the completion of the National Library had realised N20.7billion.

She stated this while having lunch with the press at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, explaining that the birthday account, Oluremi@65 Education Fund will remain open till December 2025 to receive more donations from willing Nigerians towards the completion of the project.

Senator Tinubu also debunked claims that her 65th birthday anniversary fundraiser is politically motivated.

She pointed out that as a teacher, as well as the impact library had on her life while growing up, she was motivated to call for the donations towards the building of the National Library.

“What is wrong in doing well or trying to build our country – if I could assist the post war building process in Liberia by donating the Oluremi Tinubu Elementary and Junior Secondary School in Monte Serrado County in Liberia, what is wrong in drawing attention to some of the areas of need in our beloved Nation,” she said.

“This is not the first time I have raised funds for causes close to my heart. For my 45th birthday, I raised ₦50 million to complete the National Sickle Cell Foundation Center, which has since become fully operational. For my 50th birthday, I raised ₦200 million for the New Era Foundation and other charities.

“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.”

The First Lady disclosed that as at 2pm on Tuesday, 23rd September, 2025, the fund had realised N20.4 billion and was still counting, noting that the account will remain open till December 2025 before it is shut down.

Senator Tinubu said the signatories to the account are the Minister of Education and the Chief Librarian of the Federation, insisting hers was to help drive the funds.

The National Assembly Library project, initiated in 1981 and approved with funding in subsequent years, had faced decades of funding delays, with the budget escalating from ₦8.2 billion in 1981 to ₦23 billion as of 2023.

However, President Bola Tinubu’s administration is ready to “take the bull by the horn,” as the First Lady put it, to ensure that construction is completed within two years.