The Yaba College of Technology (Yabatech) has recorded another major milestone in research and innovation after securing a €117,000 (approximately N200 million) grant from the European Union. The funding, awarded under the EU’s Horizon Europe programme, will support the development of a solar-powered aquaponics system designed to strengthen food security in Nigeria and West Africa.
The initiative, officially titled Integrated Aquaponics System for Sustainable Catfish Production and Dual-Crop Cultivation of Leafy Vegetables and Corn (AQUACLEC), seeks to combine catfish farming with vegetable and maize production in an integrated, renewable energy-powered system. Yabatech says the project will serve as a scalable model for sustainable agriculture, blending innovation with real-world solutions to Nigeria’s food.
A Project Led by Innovation
The project is being coordinated by Dr. Funmilayo Doherty, Director of the Centre for Research Support and Grants Management at Yabatech. Doherty, who has long championed research with practical impact, is working alongside partners from the University of Lagos, the University of Turku in Finland, and the University of Lapland. According to her, the pilot project will establish a Local Innovation Hub in Lagos, which will serve as a testing ground for adapting and replicating the system across multiple Nigerian communities.
“The pilot scheme will show how renewable energy and integrated farming can reduce costs, boost productivity, and strengthen household nutrition,” Doherty explained. “This is not just about research in isolation, but about creating a practical model that farmers and communities can adopt to build resilience against food insecurity.”
The choice of aquaponics—an environmentally friendly system that integrates fish farming with crop cultivation—underscores the institution’s effort to harness circular systems where waste from one process feeds another. With solar power providing energy, the model promises reduced operational costs, lower environmental impact, and improved yields in protein and staple food crops.
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Advancing Food Security Goals
Nigeria continues to grapple with the challenge of feeding a rapidly growing population amid climate change, rising production costs, and high import dependence. Yabatech’s spokesman, Mr. Adekunle Adams, said the grant marks a breakthrough for the institution as it continues to align research with pressing national and global challenges.
“Yabatech has recorded another major breakthrough in research and innovation after securing this grant of over N200 million,” Adams stated. “The project is designed not only to test but also to replicate the system, promoting sustainable agriculture and community-based food resilience.”
He added that the College’s administration, under the leadership of Dr. Ibraheem Abdul, has consistently supported research proposals and international collaborations that extend beyond the classroom. “The present administration has made deliberate efforts to bridge the gap between technical education and real-world needs, ensuring Nigerian youths are prepared to compete favourably in both local and global spaces,” Adams said.
Building on Research Strengths
With over 200 PhD-qualified lecturers across its faculties, Yabatech has the human capacity to sustain and expand such projects. Doherty confirmed that the aquaponics initiative will draw on this pool of expertise for training, policy engagement, and further research.
“This project reflects Yabatech’s commitment to innovation and its dual role as both a centre of academic excellence and a driver of national development,” she noted. “It demonstrates how education and entrepreneurship can intersect to address real societal needs.”
The aquaponics programme is designed to be scalable not only across Nigeria but also adaptable for West Africa, where food security remains a regional priority. Beyond agriculture, the integration of solar power highlights the cross-sectoral value of renewable energy in enhancing productivity while reducing costs for farmers.
Complementing Broader Development Goals
The EU grant is not Yabatech’s only recent win. Earlier this year, the institution secured another grant under the World Bank–supported National Youth Employment Skills Acquisition Framework (NYESAF), which funds the training of 200 young Nigerians in digital and creative media skills. Together, these programmes underline Yabatech’s growing role in marrying classroom learning with real-world application.
“These back-to-back achievements show that Yabatech is not just about academic instruction but about contributing meaningfully to national growth,” Adams added. “From food security to youth empowerment, the institution is proving its value as a hub of innovation and impact.”
For a country where agriculture employs millions but remains under-mechanized, and where food imports still drain foreign exchange, the project could not be more timely. By integrating aquaculture with crop farming and powering it sustainably, Yabatech’s model promises to inspire a new wave of agricultural innovation.
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Looking Ahead
As the College celebrates this milestone, expectations are high that the pilot hub in Lagos will demonstrate tangible results. If successful, the system could be rolled out in other parts of Nigeria and West Africa, equipping farmers with affordable, sustainable, and efficient methods of food production.
For students, researchers, and the surrounding community, the project represents not just a research breakthrough but a lifeline in tackling one of the continent’s most pressing challenges. As Doherty put it, “This is about securing the future—equipping communities with tools to feed themselves while building resilience against global disruptions.”
Yabatech’s achievement reinforces its evolving identity—not just as Nigeria’s premier polytechnic, but as a forward-looking institution preparing to transform into a university of technology. With support from international partners and a clear focus on relevance, the institution is proving that technical education can indeed power national transformation.
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