The City of Lagos Edition of Monopoly, the brain child of Bestman Games and the first of its kind in Africa, was yesterday launched at the City Hall in Lagos to avid monopoly players and lovers.
The City of Lagos Edition of Monopoly game which portrays the strength of the mega city, also enhances the profile of the state in particular and Nigeria in general.
Partnered by the Lagos State Government, First Bank of Nigeria Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank, THISDAY Newspaper and others, the game was created with localised popular landmarks of the city.
Some of the landmarks are the popular Oshodi, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), Kirikiri Prison, City Hall, Makoko and Banana Island instead of the coveted area; Mayfair seen in the UK version of the board game.
While launching the board game, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, who was accompanied by his wife, Abimbola, said it would sharpen the skills as well as instill early financial discipline and responsibility on the younger generation.
He said: "While we were growing up, the monopoly game kept us indoors. It helped instill in us values on how to manage our finances at an early age and I hope those useful lessons would impact more on the next generation.
"The monopoly game is also a useful tool for bringing parents and children together. Parenthood is a greater challenge than building roads and bridges. For me, it is the challenge of building infrastructure of the mind of the next generation that is of paramount importance."
For the Chairman, Bestman Games, Mr. Odein Ajumogobia, the choice of Lagos as the first ever African monopoly version is not misplaced as the state has been an icon of good governance.
He said: "This Lagos version of the monopoly presents the iconic landmark of the megacity and it would go a long way in financial literacy as well as create bonding time for families."
According to the Chief Executive Officer of Bestman Games, Mrs. Nimi Akinkugbe, the uniqueness of the board games was that it captured familiar streets and landmarks in the state.
She also noted that it would serve as powerful tool for financial literacy for children to relate to as well as instill great sense of ethical values for the players.
She said, "I hope the game would go a long way to enhance the profile of this mega city as well as promote financial literacy, strong ethical values and integrity by rewarding and penalising positive and negative actions respectively."
Dignitaries that graced the launch were the Minster for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Gbenga Ashiru; the Head of Marketing and Communication, First Bank of Nigeria Plc, Mrs. Remi Odulani and Bayelsa State former governorship candidate, Mr. Murray Bruce.
Other dignitaries are: Managing Director, Winning Moves, Thomas Hiddel; Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Doyle and Development Director, Winning Moves, Peter Griffin, amongst others.
