….Says Nigeria will model its National Library after Qatar’s world-class facility
The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has expressed optimism that the National Library of Nigeria, when fully constructed and equipped, will stand as a national pride and a modern, digitised hub of knowledge capable of preserving the country’s history and cultural heritage.
She made the remark after a facility tour of the Qatar National Library in Doha, describing the library as an exemplary model Nigeria could emulate in its quest to build a world-class national repository of knowledge.
In a statement on Saturday signed by Busola Kukoyi, Senior Special Assistant on Media to the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Tinubu said Nigeria intends to draw inspiration and practical lessons from Qatar’s success story in developing a cutting-edge, knowledge-driven society.
The statement reads partly: “When the National Library of Nigeria is all built and finally completed, it will become the country’s national pride as a modern, digitised facility, equipped to cater to the knowledge-building needs of all and a repository of history of the nation.
“For the nation to achieve this objective, Nigeria is looking to draw inspiration and a worthy template from the Qatar National Library in Doha.
“Nigeria is blessed with a robust and rich cultural heritage which must be properly documented for posterity.”
“The youth must have a referral point to know more about the nation.”
Senator Tinubu commended the Qatar National Library for its remarkable scale and accessibility, noting that the library’s motto, “Free Access to Knowledge,” captures a principle Nigeria aspires to uphold in its own educational and cultural development initiatives.
She highlighted that with over two million books and 500,000 e-books, the Qatar National Library situated within Education City in Doha.
According to her, building Nigeria’s National Library to similar standards will not only bridge information gaps but also empower young Nigerians to appreciate their history and contribute meaningfully to the future of the nation.
The visit to the Qatar National Library was the First Lady’s first official engagement in Doha, as part of her broader mission to deepen Nigeria’s partnerships in education and knowledge development.
Her next engagement, scheduled with the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, will focus on securing strategic collaborations to address the challenge of out-of-school children and to strengthen Almajiri education across Nigeria.
Senator Tinubu reiterated her commitment to using education as a tool for national transformation, stressing that every child deserves access to quality learning resources and equal opportunities to realise their potential.
