The Yaba College of Technology (Yabatech) has secured a €117,000 (approximately N200 million) grant from the European Union to develop a solar-powered integrated aquaponics system that combines catfish production with vegetable and maize farming.
The grant was awarded under the Integrated Aquaponics System for Sustainable Catfish Production and Dual-Crop Cultivation of Leafy Vegetables and Corn (AQUACLEC) project.
The initiative is being coordinated by Dr. Funmilayo Doherty, Director of the Centre for Research Support and Grants Management at Yabatech, with technical expertise from the University of Lagos, University of Turku, and University of Lapland.
According to Yabatech’s spokesman, Mr. Adekunle Adams, the project focuses on advancing food security by developing a solar-powered aquaponics system that integrates catfish production with vegetable and maize farming.
“Yabatech has recorded another major breakthrough in research and innovation after securing a grant of 17,000 Euros, equivalent to over N200,000,000, from the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme,” he said.
He explained that the grant would support the establishment of a local innovation hub in Lagos, testing and replicating the aquaponics system, and promoting sustainable agriculture and community-based food resilience.
Mr. Adams noted that Dr. Doherty attributed the achievement to Yabatech’s effort to align research with national and global challenges under the leadership of Dr. Ibraheem Abdul.
According to him, Doherty emphasised that the college is making deliberate efforts to bridge the gap between technical education and real-world needs, preparing Nigerian youths to compete locally and globally favourably.
“The present administration of the college has consistently supported research proposals and international collaborations that extend beyond the classroom, reinforcing Yabatech’s image as a hub of innovation and social impact,” Adams said.
He added that the project is designed to be replicable and scalable across Nigeria and West Africa, leveraging Yabatech’s pool of over 200 PhD-qualified lecturers for research, training, and policy engagement.
Adams also highlighted that this milestone followed another achievement for Yabatech under the National Youth Employment Skills Acquisition Framework (NYESAF), where the college trained 200 young Nigerians in digital and creative media skills.
The EU grant and the NYESAF programme underline Yabatech’s dual role as a centre of academic excellence and a driver of national development, linking technical education with practical agricultural innovation to strengthen food security.
