First lady Oluremi Tinubu has dismissed the claim that the call for her 65th birthday fundraising to support the completion of the National Library is politically motivated.

Ms Tinubu, through her spokeswoman, Busola Kukoyi, as a teacher, the impact the library had on her life motivated her to call for donations towards the building of the National Library.

“What is wrong with doing well or trying to build our country? If I could assist the post-war building process in Liberia by donating to the Oluremi Tinubu Elementary and Junior Secondary School in Monte Serrado County in Liberia, what is wrong with drawing attention to some of the areas of need in our beloved nation?

“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 Centre, which has since become fully operational.

“During 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,” she said.

The first lady further stated that, as the fund was still being counted, the account would remain open until December 2025, before it was shut down. According to her, some willing Nigerians have so far donated a sum of N20.7billion towards the completion of the project.

She added that the account that was generated for the donation is being managed by the government through the Ministry of Education and the National Library.

According to her, the signatories to the account are the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, and the chief librarian, Chinwe Anunobi. She insisted that her role was to help drive the funds to complete the library.

Ms Tinubu said, “The New Frontier, Gebran Kalil Gebran, a Lebanese writer, poet, philosopher, and artist, in his 1925 essay, wrote, Are you a politician, asking what your country can do for you, or a zealous one, asking what you can do for your country? If you are the first, then you are a parasite; if the second, then you are an oasis in a desert.

“That is why if we take our baby steps well, before long, things will begin to shape up for our country. We all have to rise up and play our parts in the building process. A grain of sand and a drop of water make a mighty ocean.”

(NAN)