Nimi Akinkugbe is a personal finance and wealth management expert who transitioned from a banking career in the corporate world to pursue her entrepreneurial dreams. She is the Founder of Bestman Games Ltd, the African distributor of customized editions of Monopoly, Hasbro’s world famous game.

The City of Lagos Edition of Monopoly, launched in December 2012, was the first ever, African city edition of Monopoly. Bestman Games seeks to harness the medium of gaming to engage, entertain, empower and educate.
Prior to this she enjoyed a successful banking career spanning 23 years first at Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc where she rose to the position of General Manager and Head, Private Banking and Director Stanbic IBTC Asset Management Ltd. Subsequently, she joined Barclays Bank Plc as Regional Director (West Africa) for the Wealth & Investment Management Division and Chief Country Officer for Nigeria.

Achieving financial security ranks as a major source of concern, for the Nigerian family, and Nimi seeks to harness financial literacy and inclusion as tools for youth empowerment, entrepreneurship and economic development. Under the auspices of the brand “Money Matters with Nimi”, through speaking engagements, seminars, webinars, television and radio, articles in leading publications, social media, the Monopoly Board Game and her book, A – Z of Personal Finance, Nimi provides frank, practical insights to create a greater awareness and understanding of personal finance and wealth management issues.
Through these platforms, she has been able to empower people to take responsibility for this most important aspect of their lives.

She is a frequent contributor to several leading publications including Business Day, the Punch Newspapers, and the Guardian Newspapers, Genevieve Magazine, a leading Nigerian women’s lifestyle magazine. Her articles are also featured in a host of other publications, websites and blogs including, Bella Naija, Lagos Mums, and Eden Lifestyle.
To ensure that our youth are financially savvy, Bestman Games not-for-profit arm has embarked on a project to introduce Financial Literacy School Clubs as an Extra Curricular activity in Lagos State Schools. Over 60 school clubs have been set up thus far.

Nimi holds a Bachelors Degree from London School of Economics (LSE) and an MBA from Lagos Business School. She also formalized her interest in music by obtaining a Piano Teaching Diploma (ARCM) from The Royal College of Music, London.

Nimi is an Independent Non-Executive Director of Standard Chartered Bank Ltd. She is also on the inaugural board of Nigeria Exchange Group Plc. Other directorships include House of Tara International, The Play Pen (Child Development Centre. She was recently appointed Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

She is a member of the Artistes Committee of the Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON) and the Institute of Directors. (IoD) She is an Assistant Organist at Our Saviour’s Church TBS.

In her spare time, Nimi is a keen orchid gardener, loves boating, writing, travel and playing the piano.