A table. A few cards. A handful of players leaning in, plotting their next move. It doesn’t look revolutionary, but in homes, schools, and community centres across Nigeria, moments like this are quietly reshaping how people learn and connect. From villages in Benue to bustling cafés in Lagos, board games are becoming more than pastimes. They’re helping children grasp complex ideas, sparking conversations about peace, climate action, and global citizenship—and turning play into a force for real change.
Teaching Sustainability Through Play
One standout example is PLAN (Play, Learn and Act Now), an innovative game from the eco-focused startup Ecocykle. In PLAN, players confront real-world challenges like waste management and climate action, making choices that have consequences within the game—and lessons that linger beyond it. The cooperative mechanics encourage critical thinking and teamwork as players work together to navigate environmental dilemmas.
Ecocykle launched PLAN with the ambitious mission of educating 10,000 young environmental champions across Nigeria. Each session becomes a mini-lab where young people practice sustainable thinking and leave empowered to act in their communities. It’s a reminder that climate literacy doesn’t have to feel like homework—it can be an adventure.
Exploring the World from the Table
Positive impact isn’t limited to local concerns. The family-friendly My World Trip invites players to explore global cultures from the comfort of their own living rooms. As players collect experiences and landmarks across continents, they gain insights into diverse traditions and histories. Designed to nurture curiosity and cultural awareness, My World Trip brings geography to life for both children and adults. Celebrating difference and fostering global understanding helps players see themselves as citizens of a shared planet—a perspective that’s vital in an increasingly interconnected world.
Games for Peace and Preparedness
Board games are also strengthening community resilience where it matters most. Christian Blind Mission (CBM), an international development organisation focused on improving the lives of people with disabilities, partners with Nigerian groups to bring learning through play to underserved areas.
At the Elim Vocational Centre in Benue State, for example, specially designed games are adapted to enable children and youth of all abilities to participate. Lessons about cooperation and conflict resolution become accessible play, creating a safe space where inclusion is part of every move. In Taraba State, the Gembu Centre for HIV/AIDS Advocacy Nigeria (GECHAAN) combines health education with conflict-prevention activities, utilising board games to develop skills in teamwork, communication, and empathy.
Other community groups across Plateau, Gombe, Yobe, Borno, and Abuja are using similar approaches with CBM’s support, backed by the European Union and German Cooperation. These collaborations show how play can transcend entertainment—each session becoming a workshop in problem-solving and peacebuilding.
Youth-Led Movements for Literacy
Young Nigerian changemakers are equally inventive. Groups such as Teach the Child, Nzuko Games, and Yes to Literacy have adopted play as a means to enhance education in both formal and informal settings. Their programs feature homegrown titles like Our School Competition, Luku Luku, Mgbako, Block Industry, Word Jumble, and Instant Word, alongside classics like Chess and Scrabble.
Whether it’s sharpening spelling skills through Word Jumble or developing quick thinking with Luku Luku, these games turn learning into a lively, collaborative challenge. In Abuja and Enugu, children who might otherwise be disengaged find themselves counting, spelling, and strategizing with joy.
Why Play Works
What makes games so effective for social impact? Psychologists point to active learning—players don’t just receive information, they experiment with it, take risks, and witness the outcomes of their decisions. Games invite storytelling and role-play, helping players build empathy by stepping into different perspectives. They also foster cooperation, communication, and strategic thinking, all while lowering the barriers that can make formal education intimidating. A board game’s friendly competition and shared laughter can create an environment where complex topics—such as climate change, conflict, and inequality—become approachable.
Play as a Path to Change
From tackling climate change to celebrating cultural diversity, these projects share a powerful truth: play transforms passive learning into active participation. Games like PLAN and My World Trip prove that a tabletop can be more than a pastime—it can be a launchpad for a better world.
As the African Board Games Convention (AB Con) continues to champion designers and organisations harnessing play for social good, one thing is clear: the next great movement for change might begin with a shuffle of cards and the roll of a die.
Written by: Hilda Alagada
