The book, “Fighting Corruption Is Dangerous: The Story Behind the Headlines” written by economist, international development expert and Nigeria’s form
The book, “Fighting Corruption Is Dangerous: The Story Behind the Headlines” written by economist, international development expert and Nigeria’s former Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, is basically an account of how to fight corruption. Drawing on her experience during her time as minister, she describes dangers, pitfalls, and successes in fighting corruption. She provides practical lessons learned and tells how anti-corruption advocates need to equip themselves. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala who sits atop the boards of Standard Chartered Bank, Twitter, Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization, and the African Risk Capacity, details the numerous ways in which corruption can divert resources away from development, rewarding the unscrupulous and depriving poor people of services.
A book about grit, it is also about what it means to be patriotic and is therefore a primer for those working to root out corruption and disrupt vested interests. Okonjo-Iweala discovered just how dangerous fighting corruption could be when her 83-year-old mother was kidnapped in 2012 by forces who objected to some of the government’s efforts at reforms led by Okonjo-Iweala—in particular a crackdown on fraudulent claims for oil subsidy payments, a huge drain on the country’s finances. The kidnappers’ first demand was that Okonjo-Iweala resign from her position on live television and leave the country. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala did not resign, her mother escaped, and the program of economic reforms continued.
The 64 year old said of writing the book, “Telling my story is risky, but not telling it is also dangerous.”
