Yaba College of Technology (Yabatech) has secured a €117,000 (approximately N200 million) grant from the European Union to develop a solar-powered aquaponics system that integrates catfish farming with vegetable and maize cultivation.
The project, titled “Integrated Aquaponics System for Sustainable Catfish Production and Dual-Crop Cultivation of Leafy Vegetables and Corn,” is part of the EU’s Horizon Europe programme and aims to boost food security through sustainable agricultural innovation.
According to a statement issued on Monday by Yabatech’s spokesman, Adekunle Adams, the initiative is known as AQUACLEC and is led by Funmilayo Doherty, who also serves as the Director of the Centre for Research Support and Grants Management at the college.
The project benefits from technical collaboration with the University of Lagos, University of Turku, and University of Lapland, bringing international expertise to its implementation.
Adams explained that the EU grant will support the creation of a local innovation hub in Lagos, alongside system testing and replication, all geared toward promoting sustainable agriculture and enhancing community-based food resilience.
He added that Ms Doherty credited the grant’s success to Yabatech’s commitment to aligning research with national and global challenges, under the leadership of Rector Ibraheem Abdul.
“There have been deliberate efforts to bridge the gap between technical education and real-world needs, ensuring Nigerian youths can compete locally and globally,” Ms Doherty said.
She stated the college’s consistent support for research and international collaboration, which continues to position Yabatech as a hub for innovation and social impact.
The project is designed to be replicable and scalable across Nigeria and West Africa. It will also leverage Yabatech’s academic strength, including over 200 PhD-qualified lecturers for research, training, and policy advocacy.
Adams noted that the EU grant and NYESAF programme highlight Yabatech’s growing role as a center of both academic excellence and national development.
This development follows Yabatech’s recent involvement in the National Youth Employment Skills Acquisition Framework (NYESAF), where it trained 200 Nigerian youths in digital and creative media.
