Food security: Yabatech secures €117,000 for integrated aquaponics system

The Yaba College of Technology (Yabatech) has secured €117,000 (about N200 million) grant from the European Union to advance a solar-powered integrated aquaponics system that will focus on catfish production and vegetable and maize farming.

According to a statement by Mr Adekunle Adams, spokesman for Yabatech, on Monday, the grant was secured under a project, Integrated Aquaponics System for Sustainable Catfish Production and Dual-Crop Cultivation of Leafy Vegetables and Corn (AQUACLEC).

our correspondent reports that AQUACLEC is being coordinated by Dr Funmilayo Doherty with technical expertise from University of Lagos, University of Turku, and University of Lapland.

Doherty is also the Director of Centre for Research Support and Grants Management, Yaba College of Technology.

Adams said that the project was aimed at advancing food security through development of a solar-powered aquaponics system that integrated 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 stated.

The spokesperson disclosed that the grabt would enable establishment of a local innovation hub in Lagos, testing and replication of the system, and promotion of sustainable agriculture and community-based food resilience.

He said that Doherty attributed the success to Yabatech’s drive to align research with national and global challenges, under the leadership of Dr Ibraheem Abdul.

He quoted Doherty as saying that there had been deliberate efforts by the college to bridge the gap between technical education and real-world needs to prepare Nigerian youths to compete favourably in both local and global spaces.

“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.

“The project is designed to be replicable, scalable across Nigeria and West Africa, leveraging Yabatech’s pool of over 200 PhD-qualified lecturers for research, training and policy engagement.

“This milestone followed another win for Yabatech under the National Youth Employment Skills Acquisition Framework (NYESAF) in training 200 young Nigerians in digital and creative media skills.

“The EU grant and NYESAF programme highlight Yabatech’s dual role as a centre of academic excellence and driver of national development, meeting technical education and real-world needs,” Adams added.