Meet The Woman Who Brought The Globally Renowned ‘Monopoly’ Board Game To Nigeria, Nimi Akinkugbe

Mrs. Nimi Akinkugbe is currently the CEO of Bestman Games, founded in 2012, which brought the globally renowned 'Monopoly' board game to Nigeria. She served as the the Head of Private and Business Banking at Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc (formerly known as IBTC Chartered Bank plc). Mrs. Akinkugbe also served as Head of Asset Management and Private Banking Department of IBTC Chartered Bank plc. where she was responsible for IBTC Asset Management Limited.
Nimi holds a Bachelor’s Degree from The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and an MBA from Lagos Business School. She is a Director at The Play Pen (Child Development Centre), The Daisy Management Centre and Bestman Games Ltd. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees for the Ajumogobia Science Foundation, Women in Management & Business (WIMBIZ) and the Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON) Artistes Committee. In her free time, she enjoys playing the piano, writing, travel, boating and orchid gardening.

Here are 10 facts about the phenomenal lady.
Nimi Akinkugbe was born in Port Harcourt and lived in Lagos until she was 7 years old when her family moved to East Africa where her late father Mr. F.I. Ajumogobia was UNESCO Chief of Mission.

She grew up in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, and attended the International School of Tanganyika, and later Limuru Girls School, Limuru, Kenya before returning to Nigeria for her O’ Levels at the International School, Ibadan. She holds a Bachelors Degree from The London School of Economics (LSE) and an MBA from Lagos Business School (IESE). After which she formalized her interest in Music by obtaining a piano teaching diploma from the Royal College of Music in London before returning to Nigeria to participate in the National Youth Service Corps scheme.

Enjoyed a distinguished banking career spanning over 2 decades first at Stanbic IBTC Bank plc where she was General Manager and Head Private Client Services with responsibility for the bank’s high net worth business and a director of Stanbic IBTC Asset Management Ltd.

In 2012, the former Governor of Lagos state, Babatunde Fashola launched the first ever African City Edition of Monopoly, the popular board game tagged the Lagos City Edition.

Mrs. Nimi Akinkugbe presenting the City of Lagos Edition of Monopoly to Gov. Fashola in 2012

Provides frank, practical insights to create a greater awareness and understanding of personal finance and wealth management issues under the auspices of the brand “Money Matters with Nimi,” through speaking engagements, television and radio appearances and social media, the Monopoly Board Games and her new book, “A – Z of Personal Finance”, Through these platforms, she has been able to empower people to take responsibility for this most important aspect of their lives.

Nimi contributes articles to several leading publications including Genevieve Magazine, a leading Nigerian women’s lifestyle magazine, Business Day, the Punch Newspapers, and the Guardian Newspapers. Her articles are also featured in a host of other publications, websites and blogs including, Bella Naija, Lagos Mums, Eden Lifestyle and The Edition, a Kenyan publication.

Mrs Nimi Akinkugbe presenting The City Of Lagos Edition of Monopoly to H.E Dr Dalhatu Sarki Tafida CFR - Nigeria's High Commissioner to the UK in his office in London in the run-up to the UK unveiling.

She's a Director of The Play Pen (Child Development Centre). Other Directorships include, The Daisy Management Centre, House of Tara International, Promo Print Ventures, and Financial Derivatives Company.

A member of the Board of Trustees of the Ajumogobia Science Foundation, which seeks to support the teaching and learning of science, and a member of the Board of Trustees of The Play Pen, Child Development Centre and the Artistes Committee of the Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON). She is also on the Selection Committee of the Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Programme (TEEP).

In her spare time she is a keen gardener (Nimi’s garden), loves boating, writing, playing the piano and travel.

She's married and blessed with 3 children.