Nigerians have reacted to First Lady Remi Tinubu’s appeal for contributions toward the completion of the National Library project as part of her 65th birthday celebration.
In a video posted on Instagram on Monday, Mrs Tinubu asked friends, associates and admirers to convert their goodwill gestures for her birthday into donations for the project.
She said she would mark her birthday on Sunday, September 21, in quiet reflection and thanksgiving to God and urged well-wishers to forgo cards, cakes, flowers and newspaper adverts.
“I wish to appeal to those who would like to send a birthday card, cakes, flowers, greetings in the newspapers or gifts, should please send the funds to the designated account for a special project close to my heart, among many others, the completion of the National Library. This will be the best birthday present I could receive,” she said.
She added that the initiative would be coordinated by the Federal Ministry of Education under the banner #Oluremi@65EducationFund.
The announcement quickly drew criticism online.
One user wrote, “So you’re begging poor citizens to contribute for your foundation. With all due respect please put this video down because it doesn’t portray good of the country as the First Lady of this nation. Where are we even heading to… Who is your media manager?”
Another user asked, “What happened to taxpayers’ money for the project?”
A different commenter wrote, “So this is real. I actually thought it was AI.”
Another reaction read, “Una don see us finish for this country.”
Blogger Tunde Ednut also posted on Instagram, “Is this a joke??? I have never in my life heard of a First Lady of a nation indirectly telling poor citizens to donate money into a particular account for her personal project.”
Remi Tinubu’s latest appeal follows her ongoing work in education, women’s empowerment, healthcare and agriculture.
Under the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), she has launched programs including, Flow with Confidence, which distributes sanitary pads to schoolgirls nationwide, grants for persons with disabilities in each state, professional kits for midwives distributed across zones and empowerment schemes for women farmers and youth skill development.
