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

The grant was awarded to the institution’s Centre for Research Support and Grants Management (CRSGM), Yaba College of Technology, under its Integrated Aquaponics System for Sustainable Catfish Production and Dual-Crop Cultivation of Leafy Vegetables and Corn (AQUACLEC) project.

According to Yabatech’s spokesman, Mr. Adekunle Adams, a Local Innovation Hub (LIH) will also be established in Lagos to drive replication, enhance local food resilience, and promote sustainable livelihoods.

“Implementation is already underway — with 80 direct prospective beneficiaries and 40 indirect beneficiaries having undergone surveys as part of the project’s baseline data collection and stakeholder engagement process,” Adams added.

The initiative is coordinated by Dr. Funmilayo Doherty, Director of CRSGM, in collaboration with the Agric Cooperative Society, Yabatech, and supported by experts from the University of Lagos, University of Turku (Finland), and University of Lapland (Finland).

Adams appreciated the institution’s Rector, Dr. Ibraheem Adedotun Abdul, for his continuous encouragement and unwavering support in strengthening CRSGM’s capacity to deliver impactful research and secure international grants.

What is Aquaponics?

Aquaponics is a symbiotic environmental system for food production that combines aquaculture (raising fish) and hydroponics (growing plants in water). It eliminates the use of chemical fertilisers, as it relies on fish waste to supply nutrients to the plants, which in turn helps filter and clean the water that returns to the fish tank.