By Adebisi Aikulola
Yaba College of Technology (Yabatech) has once again asserted its leadership in technological innovation and research excellence, with two of its staff winning over ₦62.9 million in research grants in the highly competitive TETFund National Research Fund (NRF) research grants.
This was disclosed in a statement released by the Deputy Registrar, Centre for Information, Communication and Public Relations of the college, Adekunle Adams.
According to him, Dr. Emodi Anthony Izuchukwu, in the School of Art Design and Printing of the institution, was awarded a grant of ₦24.1 million for his pioneering project titled “Transforming Marine Pollution into Art: A Strategic Approach to Enhancing Nigeria’s Blue Economy.”
The project, he said, was developed in collaboration with a multidisciplinary team of co-researchers and aimed to creatively repurpose marine waste into art while supporting environmental sustainability and economic growth in Nigeria’s maritime sector.
Dr. Emodi, the statement claimed, will be working alongside co-researchers, comprising Chinyere Ndubuisi, PhD, Emmanuel Irokanulo, PhD, Florence Nweke, PhD, Adenike Ezeagwu, PhD, Clement Adesanya, PhD, Osia Obinna, Taiwo Sorunke, and Augustine Ofurum, to explore innovative ways of converting marine waste into artistic value while supporting sustainable development in Nigeria’s blue economy.
Adams expatiated that another staff member, Dr. Akin Olaleru from the School of Engineering, secured a grant of ₦38.8 million for his cutting-edge research on “Fabrication and Optimization of Hybrid Perovskite Semiconductors for High-Efficiency Photovoltaic Devices.”
The research work is poised to drive significant advances in renewable energy and solar power technology, contributing to Nigeria’s clean energy goals; Adams expressed.
Dr. Olaleru, he said, has a research team encompassing Dr. Olufunke Oyebamiji, Dr. Olasoji Adekoya, Dr. Matthew Solomon, Dr. Ojiodu Chukwuwuba Chekwube, and Donatus Ugochukwu Moses.
The Deputy Registrar, however, noted that the landmark awards, totaling over ₦62 million, highlight Yabatech’s growing influence in addressing national and global challenges through applied research, sustainability, and technological innovation.
The management of Yaba College of Technology, the statement revealed, congratulated the researchers and their teams for this outstanding achievement, noting that the success reaffirms the institution’s status as Nigeria’s leading technological tertiary institution.
“This recognition underscores our commitment to producing research that not only pushes scientific boundaries but also delivers practical solutions to real-world problems.”
Adams maintained that, with these grants, YabaTech continues to lead the charge in driving transformative research that impacts society, industry, and the environment.