Yaba College of Technology has landed fresh international backing for its research ambitions. The Lagos-based institution secured a €117,000 (₦200 million) grant from the European Union to build an integrated, solar-powered aquaponics system that combines catfish farming with vegetable and maize cultivation. The project—known as AQUACLEC—is designed to address one of Nigeria’s most pressing challenges: feeding a rapidly growing population amid climate and infrastructure constraints.
The initiative is being led by Dr. Funmilayo Doherty, Director of the Centre for Research Support and Grants Management at Yabatech, in collaboration with researchers from the University of Lagos, University of Turku, and University of Lapland. For Doherty, the grant is proof that local innovation, when aligned with global priorities, can attract international recognition and funding.
Aquaponics—a system that combines aquaculture (fish farming) with hydroponics (soil-free crop cultivation)—isn’t new. But Yabatech’s model stands out for its integration of renewable solar energy and its focus on replicability. The design, officials say, will allow farmers to raise catfish while producing leafy vegetables and corn in the same closed-loop system, conserving water and energy along the way.
According to college spokesperson Adekunle Adams, the EU grant will fund the establishment of a local innovation hub in Lagos, where the system will be tested, refined, and prepared for wider rollout. The goal is to create a replicable framework that can be scaled across Nigeria and West Africa, advancing both food security and community resilience.
Yabatech has been working to position itself as more than just Nigeria’s first higher institution of technology. Under the leadership of Dr. Ibraheem Abdul, the college has pursued international collaborations that connect technical education to real-world needs. “This administration has consistently supported research proposals and partnerships that extend beyond the classroom,” Adams noted.
Dr. Doherty argues that this orientation is deliberate. “We are bridging the gap between technical education and the practical demands of society, preparing Nigerian youths to compete locally and globally,” she said. That vision appears to be paying off: Yabatech now counts more than 200 PhD-qualified lecturers among its faculty, fueling both teaching and research.
This isn’t Yabatech’s first big win. The college recently trained 200 young Nigerians in digital and creative media skills under the government’s National Youth Employment Skills Acquisition Framework (NYESAF), another initiative tying education to employability. Together, the EU grant and NYESAF project reflect a broader strategy: positioning Yabatech as both an academic institution and a driver of national development.
The aquaponics project also underscores how Nigerian colleges are adapting to global trends. With climate change threatening traditional farming, and food imports straining foreign reserves, solutions that combine sustainability with scalability are in demand. For Yabatech, proving that its solar-powered aquaponics model works could open doors to larger partnerships and more significant funding.
If successful, AQUACLEC could serve as a blueprint for climate-smart agriculture in Nigeria and beyond. By leveraging renewable energy and closed-loop farming, the system aims to reduce reliance on erratic power supplies and water-intensive methods. The replicable design means it can be adopted by communities, agribusinesses, and governments seeking sustainable food solutions.
For now, the college is betting that its mix of international collaboration, technical expertise, and local innovation will help it deliver results. If it does, Yabatech’s reputation as a hub of research and innovation may grow far beyond Lagos.
