Nigerian business elites have pledged a whopping ₦17.5 billion towards the IBB Presidential Library Project, unveiled during the launch of Ibrahim Babangida’s autobiography, A Journey in Service, held on Thursday in Abuja.
Leading the list of donors was billionaire industrialist and philanthropist Abdul Samad Rabiu, who announced a ₦5 billion contribution.
The event, graced by President Bola Tinubu, took place at the Congress Hall of the Transcorp Hilton and drew prominent figures from politics, business, and academia.
The IBB Presidential Library Project, modeled after similar institutions worldwide, aims to preserve historical records, promote research, and advance leadership development in Nigeria and across Africa.
Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, donated N2 billion and pledged to add N2 billion annually over the next three years, bringing his total to N8 billion, while former army chief and minister of defence TY Danjuma pledged N3 billion.
Billionaire businessman Arthur Eze also supported the project with N500 million.
In his remarks, Mr Babangida praised Mr Rabiu for supporting the project from the very beginning, adding that his commitment was critical in bringing the library’s vision closer to reality.
According to the promoters, the IBB Presidential Library is designed as “a national institution that will serve as a repository of Nigeria’s arts, political, and military history.”
They said the library would preserve the evolution of leadership and governance in the country, especially during Mr Babangida’s eight years in power. The Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta is the only one of its kind in Nigeria yet.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo chaired the book presentation event, and former Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo delivered a keynote address.
Three former Nigerian leaders, Yakubu Gowon, Abdulsalami Abubakar, Goodluck Jonathan, and former Sierra Leonean President Ernest Koroma, attended the event. Former vice presidents Atiku Abubakar and Yemi Osinbajo also attended while senior aides represented former President Muhammadu Buhari and Mr Danjuma.
In his remarks, President Tinubu stressed the importance of documenting Nigeria’s leadership journey and Mr Babangida’s impact on the country’s history.
Mr Osinbajo provided a detailed review of the book, which offers rare insights into the former leader’s time in power, including the controversial annulment of the June 12, 1993 election
