On September 3, 2025, the African Democratic Congress (ADC), one of Nigeria’s opposition political parties, issued a strong statement urging the Federal Government to take full responsibility for completing the long-abandoned National Library of Nigeria project in Abuja. The party’s call came in response to an announcement by Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who revealed plans to dedicate her 65th birthday celebrations on September 21, 2025, to raising funds for the completion of the National Library. While the ADC commended the First Lady’s initiative, it firmly rejected the idea of relying on private charity for a project of such national significance, describing it as a critical institution that should not be reduced to a personal pet project. The party’s stance has sparked a broader conversation about the role of public funding, the state of Nigeria’s cultural institutions, and the responsibilities of the government in preserving the nation’s intellectual heritage.
Background: The National Library Project and Its Challenges
The National Library of Nigeria, established by an Act of Parliament in 1964, is envisioned as the country’s foremost repository of knowledge, culture, and history. As a parastatal under the Federal Ministry of Education, its mandate is to preserve Nigeria’s intellectual heritage and provide access to resources that foster research, education, and national development. The construction of its permanent headquarters in Abuja, which began in 2006, was intended to create a modern, world-class facility capable of meeting the needs of a growing nation. However, nearly two decades later, the project remains incomplete, plagued by funding shortages, shifting government priorities, and bureaucratic inefficiencies.
The National Library’s unfinished state is emblematic of broader challenges facing Nigeria’s public infrastructure. Successive administrations have promised to complete the project, but progress has been slow, with funding responsibilities reportedly shifted to the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) in recent years. This shift has led to the absence of direct budgetary allocations for the library in the 2024 and 2025 federal budgets, raising concerns about the government’s commitment to the project. The library’s incomplete status has limited its ability to fulfill its mandate, leaving Nigeria without a fully functional national repository at a time when access to knowledge is critical for development.
Senator Oluremi Tinubu’s Birthday Appeal
In a video message released on September 1, 2025, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Nigeria’s First Lady, announced her intention to dedicate her 65th birthday to raising funds for the completion of the National Library. Speaking through her media aide, Busola Kukoyi, the First Lady expressed her desire for a quiet birthday celebration focused on thanksgiving to God. She appealed to well-wishers, friends, and supporters to forgo traditional gifts such as cards, cakes, flowers, or newspaper advertisements and instead contribute funds to a designated account under the “Oluremi at 65 Education Fund” (Zenith Bank Plc, account number 1310314977). The initiative, coordinated by the Federal Ministry of Education, reflects her passion for education and her commitment to advancing Nigeria’s cultural and intellectual heritage.
The First Lady emphasized the transformative potential of a completed National Library, describing it as “more than a building” and a “repository of our history, knowledge, and aspirations as a nation.” Her appeal has been widely publicized, generating mixed reactions from Nigerians. While many have praised her for drawing attention to the long-neglected project, others, including the ADC, have questioned the appropriateness of relying on private donations for a national institution of such importance.
The ADC’s Position: A Call for Federal Responsibility
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC expressed appreciation for Senator Tinubu’s gesture but argued that the National Library should not be treated as a charitable endeavor. The party described the library as a “living repository of our collective memory and intellectual heritage” and the “custodian of Nigeria’s story, culture, research, and knowledge production.” It emphasized that the institution, established by law, is not merely a building but a critical pillar of Nigeria’s educational and cultural framework, essential for fostering a progressive and enlightened society.
The ADC’s statement highlighted several key points:
National Importance of the Library: The party underscored the library’s role as a national monument, arguing that its completion and long-term maintenance should be prioritized through transparent, sustainable, and predictable national funding rather than goodwill donations. The ADC stressed that a nation’s intellectual heritage cannot depend on acts of benevolence, especially when it has been deliberately neglected in the budgetary process.
Criticism of Funding Shifts: The ADC noted that the responsibility for funding the National Library was shifted to TETFUND, a move that has resulted in the exclusion of direct budgetary allocations in recent years. The party described this arrangement as unsustainable and called for the government to restore direct funding to ensure the project’s completion.
Call for Presidential Action: The ADC urged Senator Tinubu to leverage her influence as First Lady to press President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to prioritize the project through federal budgetary allocations. The party argued that the President’s direct intervention is necessary to address the funding gaps and bureaucratic delays that have stalled the project for nearly two decades.
Rejection of Personalization: The ADC firmly stated that the National Library “cannot, and must not, be reduced to the status of a personal pet project of any individual, no matter how well-intentioned.” This stance reflects concerns about the potential for high-profile projects to be politicized or tied to individual legacies rather than treated as national priorities.
The ADC’s position has resonated with many Nigerians who share concerns about the state of public infrastructure and the government’s reliance on private initiatives to address systemic issues. The party’s call for federal responsibility aligns with broader demands for accountability and effective governance in Nigeria.
Broader Context: Nigeria’s Infrastructure and Funding Challenges
The ADC’s rejection of Senator Tinubu’s charity plan must be understood within the broader context of Nigeria’s infrastructure and funding challenges. The country faces significant hurdles in maintaining and developing its public institutions, from roads and schools to hospitals and cultural facilities. Chronic underfunding, corruption, and mismanagement have left many projects, including the National Library, in limbo for years. The shift of funding responsibilities to agencies like TETFUND, originally established to support tertiary education, has often been criticized as a stopgap measure that fails to address the root causes of project delays.
Nigeria’s budgetary process has also come under scrutiny for prioritizing recurrent expenditure over capital projects. In recent years, the federal budget has allocated significant resources to debt servicing and administrative costs, leaving limited funds for infrastructure development. The exclusion of the National Library from the 2024 and 2025 budgets is a stark example of this trend, raising questions about the government’s commitment to cultural and educational priorities.
The ADC’s statement also reflects growing public frustration with the government’s handling of national projects. Critics argue that relying on private charity, even from well-meaning individuals like the First Lady, risks undermining the state’s responsibility to fund public goods. Such initiatives, while commendable, may create perceptions of favoritism or politicization, particularly when tied to high-profile figures. The ADC’s call for federal funding is thus seen as a broader critique of the government’s approach to governance and resource allocation.
Senator Oluremi Tinubu’s Philanthropic Legacy
Senator Oluremi Tinubu’s appeal for donations aligns with her established record of philanthropy and public service. Through her Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), launched in 2023, the First Lady has spearheaded numerous programs aimed at empowering women, supporting youth, and addressing social challenges. Official figures indicate that RHI has deployed over ₦12.9 billion in two years to support vulnerable populations across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. Initiatives include cash grants for elderly citizens, relief for flood victims, and support for small-scale entrepreneurs.
Her decision to focus on the National Library reflects her longstanding commitment to education, a cause she championed during her tenure as a senator and as First Lady of Lagos State. Through her New Era Foundation, she has supported mentoring programs, environmental awareness, and widow empowerment, laying the groundwork for her current national initiatives. Her appeal for donations has been framed as a call for collective action, emphasizing the shared responsibility of Nigerians to preserve their cultural heritage.
However, the ADC’s critique highlights a tension between individual philanthropy and state responsibility. While Senator Tinubu’s initiative has drawn attention to the National Library’s plight, it has also sparked debate about whether such projects should rely on private goodwill. Critics argue that high-profile charity drives, while impactful, may divert attention from systemic issues such as inadequate budgeting and poor project management.
Public and Stakeholder Reactions
The ADC’s statement has elicited a range of reactions from Nigerians, reflecting the polarized views on the role of philanthropy in public projects. Supporters of Senator Tinubu have praised her for highlighting the National Library’s challenges and mobilizing resources to address them. They argue that her initiative demonstrates leadership and a commitment to education, particularly in a context where government funding has been insufficient. Some have called for Nigerians to support the First Lady’s appeal, viewing it as a patriotic effort to complete a long-overdue project.
Conversely, critics, including the ADC, have expressed concern that relying on private donations risks undermining the government’s accountability. Civil society organizations have echoed the ADC’s call for federal funding, arguing that the National Library is a public good that warrants direct government investment. Some analysts have also raised questions about the transparency of the donation process, emphasizing the need for clear accountability mechanisms to ensure that funds are used effectively.
The controversy has also sparked discussions on social media, with hashtags such as #FundTheNationalLibrary and #NoToCharityProjects trending on platforms like X. Many Nigerians have expressed frustration with the government’s failure to complete the project, while others have defended the First Lady’s initiative as a pragmatic response to bureaucratic delays. The debate underscores the broader challenges of balancing individual goodwill with systemic governance reforms.
Implications for Nigeria’s Cultural and Educational Landscape
The National Library’s incomplete status has far-reaching implications for Nigeria’s cultural and educational landscape. As a repository of the nation’s intellectual heritage, the library is intended to preserve historical documents, support research, and promote literacy. Its current state limits its ability to serve as a hub for scholars, students, and policymakers, hindering Nigeria’s progress toward becoming a knowledge-driven economy.
The ADC’s call for federal funding highlights the need for a sustainable approach to cultural preservation. A fully functional National Library could serve as a catalyst for educational reform, providing resources for students, researchers, and educators across the country. It could also enhance Nigeria’s global standing by showcasing its rich cultural heritage and intellectual contributions.
Moreover, the controversy surrounding the First Lady’s charity plan raises broader questions about the role of public institutions in a democratic society. Should national monuments rely on private donations, or is it the government’s responsibility to ensure their completion and maintenance? The ADC’s position reflects a growing demand for accountability and transparency in governance, particularly in the allocation of public resources.
Recommendations for Moving Forward
To address the issues raised by the ADC and other stakeholders, several steps could be taken:
Restore Budgetary Allocations: The Federal Government should prioritize the National Library in the 2026 budget, allocating sufficient funds to complete the project and ensure its long-term sustainability. This would demonstrate a commitment to cultural preservation and education.
Enhance Transparency: The government and the First Lady’s team should provide clear information on how donations to the “Oluremi at 65 Education Fund” will be managed and utilized. Independent oversight mechanisms could help build public trust in the process.
Engage Stakeholders: The government should collaborate with civil society, educational institutions, and international partners to develop a comprehensive plan for the National Library’s completion. Engaging a broad range of stakeholders would ensure that the project reflects Nigeria’s diverse needs and aspirations.
Address Systemic Issues: The government should review the funding model for public infrastructure projects, addressing issues such as bureaucratic delays and mismanagement. Reforming the budgetary process to prioritize capital projects could prevent similar challenges in the future.
Conclusion
The African Democratic Congress’s rejection of Senator Oluremi Tinubu’s charity plan for the National Library of Nigeria has brought renewed attention to a critical national issue. While the First Lady’s initiative reflects her commitment to education and cultural preservation, the ADC’s call for federal funding underscores the importance of state responsibility in maintaining public institutions. The National Library, as a symbol of Nigeria’s intellectual heritage, deserves sustained government support to fulfill its mandate.
The controversy highlights the broader challenges facing Nigeria’s public infrastructure, from underfunding to bureaucratic inefficiencies. As the nation grapples with these issues, the debate over the National Library serves as a reminder of the need for transparent, accountable, and inclusive governance. Whether through federal funding or collaborative efforts, completing the National Library should be a priority for all Nigerians committed to building a progressive and enlightened society.
