Yaba College of Technology (Yabatech), Lagos, has secured a research grant of €117,000, valued at over ₦200 million, from the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme to advance innovation in food security.
The project, titled “Integrated Aquaponics System for Sustainable Catfish Production and Dual Crop Cultivation of Leafy Vegetables and Corn,” is focused on piloting a solar-powered aquaponics system that merges catfish farming with vegetable and maize cultivation.
Leading the initiative is Dr. Funmilayo Doherty, Director of Research Support and Grants Management at Yabatech, in collaboration with the Yabatech Agric Cooperative Society. She explained that the project will establish a Local Innovation Hub in Lagos to test and adapt the model for replication across communities.
According to her, the pilot scheme will show how renewable energy and integrated farming can cut costs, improve productivity, and boost household nutrition. She noted that participants in the pilot phase will be the first to engage with the model, which is designed to be scaled across Nigeria and West Africa.
Doherty added that the research team is working with experts from the University of Lagos, the University of Turku in Finland, and the University of Lapland in Finland, to ensure strong technical collaboration.
“This project reflects Yabatech’s growing reputation for research that combines technical education with practical solutions. With over 200 PhD-qualified lecturers, the College has the capacity to sustain and expand such initiatives through rigorous research, training, and policy engagement,” she said.
This achievement comes shortly after Yabatech secured another grant under the World Bank–supported National Youth Employment Skills Acquisition Framework, which is funding the training of 200 Nigerian youths in digital and creative media skills.
Doherty stressed that both grants highlight Yabatech’s dual role as an academic centre and a driver of national development, linking education with entrepreneurship and real-world problem-solving.
Other members of the AQUACLEC research team include Dr. Olufunke Oyebamiji, Dr. Olusola Dada, Mrs. Henrietta Badejo, Mr. Abdulwakeel Oluwatobi Atoyebi, Mr. Olufunmi Dada, Dr. Akin Olaleru, Mrs. Adeola Oke, Mr. Aguh Anthony, and Mrs. Rebecca Martin. They are working in collaboration with Dr. Idowu Aneyo of UNILAG, Dr. Moammar Dayoub of the University of Turku, and Dr. Dele Raheem of the University of Lapland.
