Presido wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on Tuesday yarn say di talk wey dey waka say her 65th birthday fundraiser join her husband 2027 re-election no true.
Mrs. Tinubu talk say di fundraiser wey dem start for di new National Library complex don collect over N20.4 billion since she announce am last Thursday. She talk dis one for interactive session with State House Correspondents for Aso Rock Villa, Abuja. She clear di air say, “Dis fundraising no get any political connection. So far, we don raise N20.4 billion since di fund launch last week, and more dey come.”
She remember her past fundraising, say she dey always committed to nation-building through philanthropy. “Dis no be di first time I dey raise money for things wey dey close to my heart. For my 45th birthday, I raise N50 million to finish di National Sickle Cell Foundation Centre, wey don dey fully operational. For my 50th birthday, I raise N200 million for di New Era Foundation.”
Dis her talk come after Peter Obi, Labour Party presidential candidate for 2023 elections, yarn say Nigeria no suppose wait for birthday gifts before dem go fit complete di National Library. Obi, for one post wey he title ‘We Are Finished’ on X, write, “I join millions of Nigerians to wish Her Excellency, Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu, happy birthday. May God Almighty wey don dey with her all dis years grant her more healthy, fruitful, and happy years.”
Mrs. Tinubu tackle di wrong ideas wey dey about political motives behind di fundraising, come talk say collective action na im dey important for national development. She say, “Wetin dey wrong to draw attention to areas wey need help and inclusion? To help rebuild no get political undertone—na our duty as citizens to contribute well to society. I even donate to di post-war rebuilding of schools for Liberia.”
She borrow President John F. Kennedy words, tell Nigerians to adopt spirit of service. “No ask wetin your country fit do for you, but wetin you fit do for your country. Dis suppose guide our actions. Like President Kennedy talk, ‘Make both sides check wetin dey unite us instead of wetin dey divide us."
She add say di Bible verse for Isaiah 58:6 na wetin dey inspire her lifelong commitment to serve di nation.
Mrs. Tinubu announce say di birthday account go remain open till December 2025 to collect more donations from Nigerians wey wan contribute. She talk say di signatories to di account na di Minister of Education and di Chief Librarian of di Federation, and her own na just to help drive di funds.
Before her 65th birthday on Sunday, September 21, Mrs. Tinubu bin announce plan to raise money for di completion of di National Library wey don tey. She tell people wey wan send her gifts or put birthday greetings for newspaper make dem donate to di fund instead. For statement wey she sign last Thursday, she talk say she go dedicate her birthday to God for all His blessings and do quiet celebration, come appeal for contributions to account wey dem call “Oluremi@65 Education Fund,” wey di Ministry of Education dey coordinate.
She say, “Dis go be di best birthday gift wey I go ever receive. My love for education don make me dedicate my birthday to dis important cause.”
Di National Library headquarters project for Abuja, wey dem first talk about for 1981, don dey under construction since 2006, when dem award am for N8.59 billion and expect say e go finish under two years. But cost don rise well-well, and work slow down. By 2023, di physical completion na about 44 percent, with estimates say dem go need between N49.6 billion to over N120 billion to finish di 11-storey complex.
Di site, wey dey between di National Mosque and di National Ecumenical Centre for Abuja, don long be like symbol of stalled infrastructure project. Different governments don promise to deliver di project, and for 2025, Federal Government tell Tertiary Education Trust Fund to take over funding and start work again.
Education minister, Tunji Alausa, talk for April say work go restart by June 1, after dem check di site. Nigerian Library Association come renew dia call for September 2025, say dem need to urgently complete di facility because e dey important for education, research, and cultural preservation.
Mrs. Tinubu, wey be former senator and First Lady of Lagos State, dey always tie her advocacy to education, women empowerment, and youth development. She thank different contributors, including President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima and his wife, former President General Buhari, several former first ladies, Senate President and his wife, Speaker of di House of Representatives and his wife, National Assembly members, governors forum and governors’ spouses, security chiefs and dia wives, business moguls like Aliko Dangote, Abdulsamad Rabiu, Arthur Eze, Tony Elumelu, Jim Ovia, and plenty other well-wishers.
