Federal government combines First Lady's birthday gifts and TETFund allocations to revive abandoned National Library project
The Nigerian Federal Government has allocated approximately N25bn, sourced from gifts received by First Lady Oluremi Tinubu during her birthday celebration and funds from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund TETFund, to complete the abandoned National Library of Nigeria headquarters complex in Abuja. Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced this development following the Federal Executive Council's approval for augmenting the existing contract for the project's completion and furnishing. The National Library headquarters project, which began on April 29, 2006, was initially slated for completion within two years but was abandoned in October 2008. Alausa stated that President Bola Tinubu directed the ministry to explore funding sources, including TETFund, to ensure the project's completion. The First Lady also directed that gifts from her birthday be channeled towards the National Library, generating about N25bn. These funds, combined with money from TETFund, are now being deployed for the project. The minister expressed optimism that construction would resume fully in the coming months, emphasizing that the completed facility would serve as a national center for learning, research, scholarship, information access, and the preservation of Nigeria's intellectual heritage. The completion is expected to strengthen the National Library's capacity to perform its statutory responsibilities and provide Nigerians with a modern national knowledge institution.
