Nigerian Library Association rejects call to divert national library funds
The Nigerian Library Association (NLA) has condemned a call credited to Olabode George, urging the diversion of funds raised for the completion of the national library headquarters to address hunger in the country.
In a statement signed by Lawal Umar, president of the association, and A. U. Kalu, secretary, the NLA described the suggestion as “irresponsible, reckless, and grossly misinformed”.
George, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, was reported to have advised Oluremi Tinubu to channel donations meant for the national library project to what he described as “hungry Nigerians”.
While expressing sympathy for Nigerians facing economic hardship, the association said diverting funds meant for the library would undermine long-term national development.
“Such a call represents a troubling disregard for the indispensable role of the National Library in Nigeria’s intellectual development, educational advancement, and long-term socio-economic transformation,” the statement said.
The association stressed that the National Library of Nigeria is not a luxury project but a strategic national asset.
“The National Library of Nigeria is not a luxury project; it is a national imperative,” the NLA said, adding that it plays a central role in preserving Nigeria’s intellectual and cultural heritage, supporting education and research, and promoting access to information and lifelong learning.
According to the librarians’ body, a fully completed and functional national library would help address structural challenges such as poverty, unemployment, and underdevelopment by strengthening Nigeria’s knowledge base and innovation capacity. “No nation that neglects its intellectual infrastructure can successfully overcome hunger, poverty, unemployment, and underdevelopment,” the statement said.
The association also defended the fundraising initiative linked to the first lady’s birthday, describing it as a reflection of strategic thinking rather than misplaced priorities.
“Her Excellency Senator Oluremi Tinubu’s selfless birthday appeal, which mobilised national goodwill towards completing this long-abandoned project, underscores a clear understanding that education and knowledge remain the most enduring gifts a nation can give its people,” the NLA said.
The group warned against politicising national development projects and urged Nigerians to see investment in knowledge institutions as a long-term solution rather than a distraction from immediate social challenges. “Diverting funds intended for the national library may provide momentary relief for a few, but completing the project will empower generations and build the intellectual capital required to eradicate hunger and poverty sustainably,” it added.
The NLA called on the federal government, private sector, development partners, and the public to continue supporting the completion of the national library headquarters. “A vibrant, well-funded national library is not merely a physical structure; it is the heartbeat of a progressive, informed, and competitive nation,” the association said.
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