Opunimi Akinkugbe, Nigeria’s former Ambassador to Greece, is making financial education in Africa as easy as gathering around a table to play games with family and friends. The banker-turned-entrepreneur has transformed a classic board game into a powerful tool for teaching financial literacy, making money management accessible and enjoyable.
Akinkugbe was raised across East Africa. Her academic journey took her to the London School of Economics (LSE), where she earned a degree in economics, followed by an MBA from Lagos Business School.
She spent 23 years in banking, specialising in wealth management and private banking. She held senior positions at Stanbic IBTC, leading the Private Banking and Asset Management divisions. Additionally, she served as the Regional Director for Wealth and Investment Management in West Africa at Barclays Bank.
Despite her success, she was deeply concerned about many Africans’ lack of basic financial literacy. She witnessed firsthand the negative impact of poor money management on people’s lives, yet financial education remained largely inaccessible. Determined to make a change, she sought an innovative way to teach economic concepts—not through lectures or spreadsheets, but by making learning about money enjoyable. This vision led to the creation of Bestman Games.
Akinkugbe founds Bestman Games
In 2012, Akinkugbe founded Bestman Games Ltd, a leading African games company based in Lagos, Nigeria. The company creates and distributes customised African editions of popular board games across 48 African countries, making financial education relatable and engaging.
Their flagship product is Monopoly, the world-famous Hasbro board game. In December 2012, Bestman Games launched the City of Lagos Edition, the first-ever African city version of Monopoly. The game, designed to reflect Nigerian culture, features well-known African landmarks, streets, and essential money lessons. Players have fun learning about saving, investing, and making smart financial choices without even realising it.
Since its launch, Bestman Games has released other localised game editions, including Nigeria Centenary Edition, Cross River Edition, Corona Schools Edition and Accra Edition.
Opunimi Akinkugbe teaches financial literacy through engaging games, helping individuals understand concepts such as saving, investing, and wealth-building from an early age. These games encourage honesty and integrity by rewarding ethical choices and penalising dishonest behaviour. They also promote community pride by incorporating features that resonate with local players. Additionally, the games strengthen family bonds by bringing people together through entertainment and positively promote Africa by inspiring interest in tourism and foreign investment.
Akinkugbe launched “Money Matters with Nimi” to make financial education more accessible for everyday individuals. She utilises her book, ‘A–Z of Personal Finance’, along with regular newspaper columns in influential publications and appearances on television and radio to teach practical financial lessons. These lessons cover topics such as saving money on a low income, smart investment strategies for wealth growth, educating children about money, and avoiding financial mistakes that can lead to debt.
Her influence goes beyond the realm of games; she also mentors entrepreneurs through the Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Program. Additionally, she serves on several boards, including House of Tara International, Financial Derivatives Company, and Letsego Microfinance Bank.
In 2020, Opunimi Akinkugbe was appointed as Nigeria’s Chief of Mission to Greece, where she served for three years. During her tenure, she brought her expertise in finance, business, and diplomacy to the global stage.
