The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has voiced concerns over First Lady Oluremi Tinubu’s plan to support the completion of the National Library in Abuja as part of her birthday celebrations. The party stressed that the library, a national monument, should not be treated as a personal charity project.
While acknowledging the First Lady’s gesture, ADC urged the Federal Government to take direct responsibility for finishing the long-abandoned project. The party emphasized that the National Library, established by an Act of Parliament in 1964, serves as the custodian of Nigeria’s intellectual heritage and collective memory, and its completion and maintenance should be funded through sustainable, transparent national budgets rather than goodwill donations.
National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi said, “We appreciate the First Lady for highlighting the National Library, but this is not a matter for personal charity. The project requires presidential attention and consistent budgetary allocations. Her influence should be used to impress upon the President the urgency of its completion.”
Meanwhile, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, expressed gratitude to the First Lady for encouraging well-wishers to donate to the library instead of giving personal gifts for her 65th birthday. Folasade Boriowo, Director of Press and Public Relations for the ministry, described her initiative as a “remarkable act of generosity and vision,” reflecting her lifelong commitment to education and belief in the transformative power of knowledge.
The ministry highlighted that revitalizing the National Library Fund aligns with the Federal Government’s broader strategy to transition Nigeria from a resource-based to a knowledge-based economy.
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