Worried by the need for students to have good grasps of the theories of their disciplines as well as the capacity to practically apply theoretical knowledge acquired to solve problems in a variety of situations, Beloxxi Industries has commissioned the Beloxxi Business Simulation Laboratory Project at the University of Lagos.

The Laboratory, which is the first of its kind in any Nigerian university, was commissioned by President Goodluck Jonathan, who was represented by the Minister of Education, Prof Ruqayyatu Rufa'i.

The Beloxxi Business Simulation laboratory, to be run by the African Institute of Business Simulations, is a 53-seater non-traditional classroom facility designed, furnished and equipped to afford students and lecturers of the Faculty of Business Administration of the University of Lagos, a conducive environment to integrate business theory with practice using business simulations.

The lab features several facilities including: flat screen work stations, an electronic board integrated with the work stations, motorized projector screen, multimedia systems including video and audio, independent back up power systems, borehole, wired and wireless internet system for accessing the web based simulation software portals.

Speaking at the commissioning, the Founder, African Institute of Business Simulations, AIBS, Richard Obire, the aim is to help universities produce more students who are industry ready or self-employable before they graduate from school.

"Simulations help bridge the practical side of the learning equation for students by giving them experience without which they will be unable to connect their studies to real world needs."

The programme would be run in two parts. The first part is to assist tertiary institution access the use of simulations for teaching by helping them set up suitable infrastructure such as this and providing them with affordable simulation software licenses. Here, the process of training and retraining lecturers in the use of business simulations for teaching would be facilitated.

The second part is to help interested schools and universities introduce simulation software development curriculums in their ICT Departments to produce local manpower with the capacity to build local simulations for problem-solving in business, education, engineering, environment, medicine, agriculture, transportation management, etc.