This TED Talk features global prosperity researcher Iphosa Ojoomo, recorded live at TED Salon, Rethink, 2019.

So in 2011, someone broke into my sister's office at the university where she teaches in Nigeria.

Now, thankfully, the person was caught, arrested, and charged the court.

But in getting to court, the clerks who were assigned to my sister's case

informed her that they wouldn't be able to process the paperwork

unless she paid a bribe.

At first, she thought it was part of a practical joke,

but then she realized they were serious,

and then she became furious.

I mean, think about it.

Here she was, the recent victim of a crime

with the very people who were supposed to help her,

and they were demanding a bribe from her.

That's just one of the many ways

that corruption impacts millions of people in my country.

You know, growing up in Nigeria,

corruption permeated virtually every element of the society.

Reports of politicians embezzling millions of dollars were common.

Police officers stealing money or extorting money from everyday hardworking citizens, was routine practice.

I felt that development could never actually happen so long as corruption persisted.

But over the past several years, in my research on innovation and

prosperity, I've learned that corruption is actually not the problem hindering our development.

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