Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to publish book on fighting corruption

Former Minister of Finance under Goodluck Jonathan's administration, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has announced she will be publishing a book, ''Fighting Corruption is Dangerous: The Story Behind the Headlines''. She made the announcement on her Facebook page.


Dear Friends, my new book “Fighting Corruption is Dangerous: The Story Behind the Headlines” is set to be released by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) press on April 12. 

The book description notes that it is risky for me to write this book, but also dangerous not to write it. It is risky because corrupt and vested interests described in the book may attempt to attack me and my family physically and reputationally as they have done before. But keeping quiet allows these same vested interests to muddy the waters and pretend to be reformers. Vested interests thrive in opaqueness and confusion.

Nigerians deserve transparency on the way governance, budget, and financial management processes work. Until they understand this and demand better nothing much will change.

Development practitioners need insights into what it means to grapple with corruption from the frontlines. And our young people need hope. They need to know that if they have the courage to fight they can win.

This book elucidates the challenges and opportunities, dangers and pitfalls, failures and successes in fighting corruption. Ultimately the book makes clear that if we have the courage of our convictions we can begin the journey of building institutions that are the necessary, if not sufficient, foundations to fight corruption.