UNILAG Students Clinch Top Prize at Aquaculture Roadmap Conference
Students of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, have emerged winners of the maiden Student Research Pitch Competition held during the Nigeria Aquaculture Roadmap Conference.
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Students of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, have emerged winners of the maiden Student Research Pitch Competition held during the Nigeria Aquaculture Roadmap Conference.
The event ran from Monday, September 22 to Thursday, September 25, 2025, at Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo Campus.
Led by the Head of Department, Professor Simeon Ayoola, a delegation of eight final-year students represented UNILAG at the conference. The students included Shobowale Inumidun Precious, Odunaiya Deborah, Godday Esther, Mukolu Ekene Munachi, Ogunbekun Olaoluwa Olukoya, Egbuna Chinelo, Sheriff Safiyyah, and Ezinne Ogbu.
The UNILAG team presented a project titled “Enhancing Aquaculture Sustainability through Integrated Aquaponics: Productivity of African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) and Vegetables in Recirculating Systems.” Their work highlighted aquaponics as an innovative response to feed costs, water management, and food security challenges. The project earned them the star prize of a ₦500,000 research grant.
In addition to the pitch competition, the students joined a vocational training session organized by Mosneri Foods, where they learned value addition techniques, including the production of catfish cookies.
Convened by the Lagos State Catfish and Allied Farmers Association (LASCAFAN), the 2025 Nigeria Aquaculture Roadmap Conference carried the theme “Shaping the Future of Aquaculture in Nigeria.” It brought together policymakers, researchers, innovators, and industry stakeholders to discuss sustainable growth strategies for the sector. The conference also provided networking opportunities and exposure to expert insights on feed alternatives, climate-smart aquaculture, and the blue economy.
