“Her act deserves applause. Yet, the very fact that such applause is necessary is proof of how deeply our governance has failed.”
By Ebube Bruno
ABUJA (CONVERSEER) – First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has raised over N20 billion for the completion of the National Library project through her 65th birthday fundraising initiative. Instead of the usual fanfare, newspaper advertorials, and expensive cakes that typically mark such occasions, she asked well-wishers to channel their goodwill toward a national cause.
Her act deserves applause. Yet, the very fact that such applause is necessary is proof of how deeply our governance has failed.
Mrs Tinubu explicitly said “no cakes, no newspaper messages” – just contributions toward completing the abandoned National Library project. Compare this to the global trend of celebrity birthday extravagance. The world’s most expensive celebrity parties cost between $200,000 to $70 million, with some reaching $27.2 million for two-week-long festivities.
In Nigeria, where wealthy individuals surprise celebrities with N8 million birthday cakes filled with money, the First Lady’s approach deserves recognition.
But here’s where celebration must pause for reflection. The National Library project has been described as “abandoned” – a damning indictment of how we manage public assets.
When did it become normal for First Ladies; whose roles are not constitutionally defined, to step in where government ministries have failed?
This troubling pattern extends beyond Mrs Tinubu. Previous First Ladies have adopted pet projects that government agencies should naturally handle. While their intentions are commendable, this trend reveals dangerous gaps in our governance structure.
Such interventions expose an accountability vacuum where goodwill substitutes for governance.
For perspective, the National Library receives about ₦2 billion annually in the budget—funds that are rarely released. Meanwhile, inflation and decades of delay have pushed the completion cost to over ₦200 billion. In one birthday, Mrs Tinubu raised ten times more than a typical yearly allocation. That should embarrass, not flatter, the government.
There’s another uncomfortable reality we must address. Such fundraisers, without strict oversight, risk becoming convenient laundromats for corrupt wealth. Politicians and contractors who should be answering to EFCC suddenly emerge as benevolent donors, buying social acceptance at a discount.
There is also the hero worship trap that follows such initiatives. The project is already being closely associated with the First Lady’s name, raising questions about whether completed facilities will retain their national identity or become monuments to individual generosity.
We’ve witnessed this pattern before. National assets lose their institutional names and become branded after individuals. This transforms public infrastructure into personal legacies, further eroding the concept of collective ownership and national identity.
The question is: how do we break this cycle? Some of the answers lie in studying countries that have gotten this right.
Countries with robust governance systems don’t rely on First Ladies’ birthdays to complete national libraries. In Singapore, public infrastructure projects are managed through established agencies with clear budgetary allocations and timelines. The UK maintains strict separation between charitable initiatives and core government responsibilities.
Even in developing countries with similar challenges, the trend is toward strengthening institutions rather than personalising public service delivery. Rwanda’s Post-genocide reconstruction succeeded precisely because they built systematic approaches to development, not personality-driven interventions.
In many countries, First Ladies or analogous figures often lead philanthropic foundations without displacing core government functions. Ghana’s Rebecca Akufo-Addo, for instance, has championed causes from malaria to library support during COVID—while institutions still managed core national projects. Nigeria can go a step further by legally recognising the Office of the First Lady to ensure transparency and accountability in such interventions.
The Bottom Line
Remi Tinubu has shown us what leadership with heart looks like. But true leadership would ensure such an example does not need to be repeated.
The real test is not how much the First Lady can raise, but whether Nigeria can finally build institutions strong enough to deliver libraries without waiting for birthday parties.
