Masobe Books to publish Dakuku Peterside’s bold new essays on Nigeria

Masobe Books has announced the forthcoming release of Beneath the Surface: Essays on Nigeria’s Chequered Journey, a powerful collection of essays by acclaimed columnist and public policy expert Dr Dakuku Peterside. Scheduled for release in October 2025 under Masobe’s Makere imprint, the book will be launched through major public presentations in Lagos and Abuja.

Already generating attention in policy and literary circles, Beneath the Surface provides a deep, unflinching look at Nigeria’s evolving identity. Through thought-provoking essays, Dr Peterside addresses themes including economic missteps, governance failures, leadership struggles, youth unrest, and Nigeria’s role on the global stage. The book is described by Masobe as “a national reckoning” that challenges readers to confront Nigeria’s complex truths.

“This is a body of work that refuses to gloss over the deep-seated challenges Nigeria faces,” Masobe Books said in a statement. “Yet, it also explores the nation’s vast potential for renewal.”

Each essay blends data-driven analysis with accessible storytelling, drawing from Dr Peterside’s extensive experience in public service and leadership consulting. His writing seeks to articulate the “silent frustrations, hopes, and realities” shaping the Nigerian experience today. Whether critiquing the political elite, exploring youth agency, or reimagining federalism, the collection aims to provoke both thought and action.

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Ahead of its release, the book has drawn praise from leading African thinkers. Kenyan legal scholar and governance advocate Professor P.L.O. Lumumba hailed it as “a manual that every conscientious person in authority should read,” praising its bold and lucid dissection of Nigeria’s core challenges.

Bishop Matthew Kukah, a key voice in Nigeria’s socio-political discourse, described it as “a window for future exploration of the options for a new Nigeria,” whilst Professor Kyari Mohammed, a respected academic, called it “a must-read for policymakers, academics, and the general reader.”

Dr Dakuku Peterside is widely regarded as a credible and thoughtful voice in Nigeria’s public discourse. A former federal legislator and Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), he has held leadership roles across all tiers of government. His weekly newspaper columns are syndicated across major Nigerian media, offering consistent commentary on national issues.

He previously authored Strategic Turnaround, a chronicle of reform in a government agency, and Leading in a Storm, a leadership guide for crisis situations. Beneath the Surface marks a broader intellectual engagement with Nigeria’s national destiny.

“Nigeria’s story is often told in fragments—either in outrage or celebration,” Dr Peterside said. “This book attempts to tell the whole story, honestly and without apology.”

The book’s launch coincides with heightened public debate about Nigeria’s democratic future, youth participation, and institutional reform. Masobe Books plans to hold public discussions and panel sessions in Lagos and Abuja featuring Dr Peterside and leading voices from government, academia, civil society, and media.

“We want this book to be a spark for meaningful dialogue—not just a publication to be shelved,” said Theresa Ominiabohs, publishing coordinator at Masobe Books.

The Makere imprint, known for championing critical African non-fiction, has published works from diplomats, analysts, and social critics. Beneath the Surface will further its goal of cultivating deep, policy-oriented writing on the continent.

With less than three months to its release, Beneath the Surface is already being pre-ordered by readers at home and abroad. Early reviewers describe it as “sobering yet strangely hopeful” and “a clarion call to action.” For many, it is expected to serve as a mirror to Nigeria’s soul—reflecting both triumphs and contradictions, whilst pointing the way forward.