[size=14pt]Lagos Launches First African-modelled Monopoly Game.[/size]

Charles Ajunwa and Chiemelie Ezeobi 

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.

ogugua88: I am putting it on my Christmas list.

ITbomb: .
Bola Tinubu will surely need this game

ogugua88: I am putting it on my Christmas list.

Egba girl: The first African city edition of the famous board game Monopoly has been launched in Lagos.

The Nigerian metropolis is one of the fast-growing cities in the world.

The board's layout was unveiled at an event in Lagos City Hall, with the manmade Banana Island named as the upmarket equivalent of Mayfair in the London edition.

Makoko, the slum on stilts over the city's lagoon, is the cheapest property for sale on the Lagos board.
Bribes

Nimi Akinkugbe, the head of Bestman Games which is producing the Lagos edition, told Nigeria's Guardian newspaper ahead of the launch that suggestions for the Mayfair spot were "a hot topic".


The BBC's Tomi Oladipo in Lagos says Banana Island, which got the coveted position, is an artificially created island where the very wealthy reside.

Some properties on the island sell for about $8m (£4.9m) - and it would cost about $150,000 a year to rent a flat there, he says.

The Nigerian Stock Exchange, Murtala Muhammed International Airport and several hotels are other properties on the board.

Many of the squares are sponsored by banks and shopping centres and even the Lagos state government appears, while some major landmarks like Tinubu Square, the New Afrika Shrine nightclub, Third Mainland Bridge and the National Theatre have been left out, our correspondent says.

Other aspects of the game have been tailored for Lagos, like the "Go To Jail" cards, which read: "Go to jail. Go directly to Kirikiri jail," referring to the city's maximum security prison.

Our reporter says one of the Chance cards issuing a fine quotes a phrase regularly used by police officers: "Park! Park! For reckless driving pay a fine... and register for retraining."

Another reads: "For attempting to bribe a law enforcement agent, pay a fine."

Some of the new traffic laws introduced by the Lagos state government, and the punishments for various offences, have also been included in the game, our reporter says.

"You've been caught driving against traffic. Report for psychiatric evaluation," one card reads.

The Monopoly game was developed in the US, originally based on streets in Atlantic City. A London version of the game was produced in 1935.

"Lagos is the first African city to have its Monopoly. Two countries in Africa have theirs, Morocco and South Africa. But there's no city that has its own customised edition," Ms Akinkugbe told the Guardian.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-20681168

aribisala0: I do not share your sadness.A visionary always looks for the upside not the gloom.One thing this MIGHT do like other things is that it raises the profile of LAGOS internationally.It is small but potentially big. 20 years ago many people had not heard of Lagos.Today many have for the wrong (419) reasons. Its only a game but it will make A lot of money.Not necesarily today or next year but eventually as Nigeria becomes more prosperous and the middle class grows.
Anyhow if you think it is not creative enough fine.The world is your oyster what is stopping you?

Brand_new:
Lol @ middle class growing because it's non existent.

aribisala0: I do not share your sadness.A visionary always looks for the upside not the gloom.One thing this MIGHT do like other things is that it raises the profile of LAGOS internationally.It is small but potentially big. 20 years ago many people had not heard of Lagos.Today many have for the wrong (419) reasons. Its only a game but it will make A lot of money.Not necesarily today or next year but eventually as Nigeria becomes more prosperous and the middle class grows.
Anyhow if you think it is not creative enough fine.The world is your oyster what is stopping you?