Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has called on Nigerians to turn her 65th birthday celebration into a national cause — by donating towards the completion of the long-abandoned National Library of Nigeria project.
Her birthday, which falls on Sunday, September 21, 2025, will not be marked with the usual fanfare of gifts, cakes, or newspaper tributes. Instead, she has launched the *Oluremi at 65 Education Fund* as a platform for well-wishers to channel their goodwill into reviving a project that has languished for decades.
“By the grace of God, I will be turning 65 years old on the 21st of September 2025. I have decided to dedicate the day to God for all His blessings in my life and to have a quiet birthday,” Mrs. Tinubu said. “I wish to appeal to those who would like to send a birthday card, cakes, flowers, greetings in the newspapers, or gifts. Instead, kindly send funds to the designated account for the completion of the National Library. This will be the best birthday present I could receive.”
The fund, managed by the Federal Ministry of Education in collaboration with Zenith Bank, is designed to ensure transparency and accountability. The First Lady emphasized that the project is not a personal initiative but a collective responsibility to preserve Nigeria’s intellectual heritage.
### A Library in Limbo
Founded in 1964, the National Library was envisioned as the country’s premier knowledge hub and repository of scholarship. However, more than 60 years later, the Abuja headquarters remains incomplete, while its branches struggle with dilapidated facilities, outdated collections, and lack of digital resources.
Investigations earlier this year revealed appalling conditions: dusty halls, inadequate computers, and poor infrastructure in the Abuja office, while the Ilorin branch functions from a single multipurpose hall with just five bookshelves and no internet access. Staffing is skeletal, with interns handling core duties, and users discouraged by the lack of a conducive study environment.
When compared with global benchmarks like the Library of Congress in Washington, the British Library in London, or France’s Bibliothèque Nationale, Nigeria’s situation underscores decades of neglect and underinvestment in educational infrastructure.
### A Call to Action
For Senator Tinubu, the intervention is deeply personal, driven by her long-standing passion for education. By tying her milestone birthday to the revival of the National Library, she is urging Nigerians to rethink the value of knowledge centers in nation-building.
Observers say her campaign is more than symbolic — it challenges leaders and citizens alike to channel personal milestones into public good. If successful, the initiative could turn the National Library from a symbol of decay into a beacon of renewal, inspiring broader reforms in Nigeria’s struggling educational sector.
As her birthday approaches, attention will focus on whether Nigerians heed her appeal. For the First Lady, the message is clear: investing in libraries is investing in the nation’s future.
follow us on whatsapp
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAOIUe9mrGeBhrju12b
Download our Mobile App for easy access
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.edutvmobile.ng&hl=en
Mobile App Lite
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.edutvng.lite
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.edutvmobile.ng&hl=en
Follow us on Youtube
https://youtube.com/@edutvnigeria
Follow us on LinkedIn -
https://ng.linkedin.com/company/edutvnigeria
Follow us on Instagram
https://instagram.com/edutvnigeria
Follow us on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/edutvnigeria/
