The National Library of Nigeria has expressed enthusiastic support for a crowdfunding initiative launched by First Lady Oluremi Tinubu aimed at completing its headquarters.
Orvell Diô, the Library’s Public Relations Officer, told journalists in Abuja that the First Lady’s involvement signifies a powerful acknowledgment of the institution’s diligent efforts under the leadership of National Librarian, Prof. Chinwe Anunobi. He emphasized that the gesture “draws wider public attention to the library’s ongoing infrastructural challenges” and encourages Nigerians “from all walks of life to take ownership of the project.”
Diô stressed the importance of the library as the nation’s intellectual repository, stating the completion of its headquarters is crucial for Nigeria’s “intellectual and cultural development.” He noted that crowdfunding presents an opportunity to fill the long-standing gap left by insufficient government allocations.
Highlighting the work of Prof. Anunobi, Diô remarked: “We felt quite happy when the First Lady made the announcement… If the National Librarian, Prof. Chinwe Anunobi, wasn’t doing something worth it, nobody will notice,” adding, “What she has been doing is yielding results enough for us to have been noticed. And then people in authority, in the highest position, have taken note…”
In a related development, Diô revealed that Prof. Anunobi has been elected First Vice-Chairman of the Conference of Directors of National Libraries—a global platform for national library leaders to exchange ideas and address shared challenges. He also announced she is the first African to hold this position, and that she has been invited to speak at the 50th anniversary of the International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) International Centre, scheduled for October this year.
