Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, has secured a research grant of €117,000 (over N200m) from the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme to drive innovation in food security.

The project, titled “Integrated Aquaponics System for Sustainable Catfish Production and Dual Crop Cultivation of Leafy Vegetables and Corn,” seeks to pilot a solar-powered aquaponics system that combines catfish farming with vegetable and maize cultivation.

The initiative is led by the College’s Director of Research Support and Grants Management, Dr. Funmilayo Doherty, in collaboration with the Yabatech Agric Cooperative Society.

According to Doherty, the project will establish a Local Innovation Hub in Lagos to test, adapt and replicate the system, creating pathways for sustainable agriculture and community-based food resilience.

She said, “The pilot scheme will show how renewable energy and integrated farming can reduce costs, boost productivity and strengthen household nutrition. Participants will be the first group to engage with the model, which is designed to be scaled across communities in Nigeria and West Africa.”

Doherty noted that the project enjoys technical collaboration from researchers at the University of Lagos, the University of Turku (Finland), and the University of Lapland (Finland).

She said the project reflects Yabatech’s commitment to aligning research with pressing national and global challenges.

“The College has steadily built a reputation for projects that combine technical education with practical solutions for society.

With over 200 PhD-qualified lecturers, Yabatech has the capacity to sustain and expand such projects through rigorous research, training, and policy engagement,” she said.

This milestone comes shortly after the College secured another grant under the World Bank–supported National Youth Employment Skills Acquisition Framework, which funds the training of 200 young Nigerians in digital and creative media skills.

Doherty said the two grants underscore Yabatech’s dual role as a centre of academic excellence and a driver of national development, balancing 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.