Educational game designer, Olajide Aderinto, is using traditional card and board games to promote cultural heritage and encourage informal learning through two products, Pacesetters and Build Naija Ludo.
The games draw on Nigerian history and national identity, adapting familiar recreational formats to make learning more interactive and accessible beyond conventional classrooms.
Pacesetters, developed to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Oyo State, is a 52-card educational game that introduces players to personalities, institutions, landmarks and historical developments associated with the state.
The game combines a conventional card-playing format with a historical quiz covering former governors, military administrators, local government areas, landmarks, cultural symbols and significant events.
Through the format, players can test their knowledge, recall historical facts and interact with others while playing, rather than relying solely on textbooks and memorisation.
The game’s design also highlights the role of visual communication in presenting historical information in an accessible format, while balancing readability, factual accuracy and the demands of gameplay.
Similarly, Build Naija Ludo adapts the familiar Ludo board game to explore Nigerian identity and shared values.
By building on a game played in many Nigerian homes, the product seeks to introduce an educational dimension to an established form of recreation that appeals to different age groups.
The approach reflects Aderinto’s interest in using familiar games to communicate ideas beyond competition and entertainment. However, the effectiveness of such educational products depends on how well their learning objectives are incorporated into the rules, visual elements and players’ decisions.
The two products represent different approaches to educational game design. While Pacesetters focuses on state history through cards and quizzes, Build Naija Ludo uses a familiar board-game format to engage players with a Nigerian national theme.
Aderinto’s background in graphic design, printing and publishing informs an approach that combines visual presentation with the development of physical learning materials.
The games also raise questions about the potential of locally developed board games to support heritage education, family interaction and informal learning in Nigeria.