The Yaba College of Technology (Yabatech) has been awarded a €117,000 grant from the European Union to advance a solar-powered integrated aquaponics system designed to boost sustainable food production in Lagos and beyond.
This project combines catfish farming with the cultivation of vegetables and maize, aiming to enhance food resilience.
This European Union funding supports the development of an innovative system known as AQUACLEC, focused on sustainable catfish production alongside dual-crop cultivation of leafy vegetables and corn. Coordinated by Dr. Funmilayo Doherty, Director of the Centre for Research Support and Grants Management at Yabatech, the endeavor involves collaboration with technical experts from the Universities of Lagos, Turku, and Lapland.
According to Yabatech’s spokesperson, Mr. Adekunle Adams, the project seeks to integrate solar energy with aquaponics technology to create a replicable and scalable model for food security in Nigeria and West Africa. The subsidy will enable the establishment of a local innovation hub in Lagos, facilitating testing, replication, and promotion of sustainable agricultural practices within communities.
Dr. Doherty attributes this achievement to Yabatech’s commitment to aligning academic research with pressing national and global issues under the leadership of Dr. Ibraheem Abdul. The college’s administration has prioritized research proposals and international partnerships that extend practical benefits beyond the classroom.
Mr. Adams emphasized that this project leverages Yabatech’s strong pool of over 200 PhD-qualified lecturers to support research, training, and policy engagement. This recent success builds on a prior accomplishment through the National Youth Employment Skills Acquisition Framework (NYESAF), which trained 200 Nigerian youths in digital and creative media skills.
These achievements show Yabatech’s dual role as both an academic powerhouse and a catalyst for national development, fulfilling its mission to bridge technical education with tangible community needs.
The college’s forward-thinking approach promises to help secure food systems and empower communities throughout Nigeria and the West African region in the years ahead.
