With collaborative workspaces and the latest technologies, the international business center is ideally suited for student-centered, real-world teaching and learning.
Students, faculty, staff and special guests gathered on campus to dedicate the new home for Lynn’s College of Business and Management on Oct. 16, 2014.
The $14 million Mohammed Indimi International Business Center carries the name of the lead benefactor, who also put forth a challenge grant to prospective donors. Generous contributors met Indimi’s challenge and named various work spaces, classrooms and faculty offices.
Dignitaries, friends and family of Indimi traveled from around the world to partake in the celebration. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush also attended.
President Kevin M. Ross welcomed guests and recognized Indimi. “This is not just a gift but an investment in the future of students from around the world, some of whom are here today and many others who will benefit from your significant generosity . . . we are so excited to have this magnificent facility as the new home for our College of Business and Management.”
Lynn professor Ibrahim A. Gambari, former foreign minister of Nigeria and former undersecretary-general of the United Nations, spoke of his longtime friendship with Indimi and his unwavering respect and admiration for him as a friend, “brother,” philanthropist and businessman.
Ameena Indimi ’98, ’00, who received both bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Lynn, is one of eight Indimi children to attend the university. She stepped to the podium and shared fond memories of her father—who received an honorary doctorate from Lynn in 2012—especially noting how overly attentive (and even a bit nervous) he became during the week his children were taking their final exams
Ameena Indimi to her father:
“It is a great honor to see you invest in the future of Lynn students as well as our own children. My two precious children are coming to school here, and they will be so proud every single day as they walk to class to see your name, my name, on a building. I applaud my father for this momentous, astonishing contribution to my alma mater. We thank you, applaud you and cherish you for all time to come.”
Following all remarks, President Ross invited everyone to join him in front of the business center’s doors for the ceremonial ribbon-cutting. The green ribbon symbolized the pending LEED Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. Green also is the primary color of the national flag of Indimi’s native Nigeria.
Currently, the 1,250 business students in this college represent 74 nations—from Albania to Zimbabwe. The 32,000-square-foot Mohammed Indimi International Business Center, with a real-world style of teaching and learning, includes 11 classrooms, 10 study rooms, 29 faculty and staff offices, and innovative spaces:
- Snyder Idea Lab—students acquire skills to transform their startup concepts into ready-to-launch businesses.
- Peter O’Neill Investment Center—professors engage students through modern projection technologies that mimic professional and trading environments.
- Beyond the Classroom—four areas configured to promote hands-on learning and on-campus collaboration with partner companies.
- Arnold Goldstein Lecture Suites—three classrooms that can be combined into one large space for events to bring students and the business community together.
- Sabrina Simone Fashion Classroom—students learn the creative, business and management fundamentals of garment design and have a place to proudly display their creations.