YABATECH’s plastogas hub wins French recognition, new TETFund research grant

 

 

Yaba College of Technology’s Plastogas Hub has earned French recognition and clinched a fresh TETFund research grant, further validating its pioneering work in converting plastic waste into clean energy and supporting cutting-edge research.

The college picked up back-to-back wins for its PlastoGas Hub project, earning commendation from the French Embassy and a new National Research Fund (NRF) grant from TETFund.

Ibraheem Abdul, the rector of YABATECH, represented by Ismaila Badmus, the deputy rector in charge of academics, and other delegates were led by Lauretta Ofodile, the project team lead, with Franca Agamah.

The plaudits came at the French Embassy Fund (FEF) Project Closure Ceremony in Abuja on June 30, where institutions that benefited from the fund gathered to review outcomes from their projects.

Andriamampianina Pierre, the French attachée for education in Nigeria, said the embassy wants to keep working with YABATECH to scale the project’s reach, describing PlastoGas Hub as a strong model for environmental innovation.

The event had in attendance Marc Fonbaustier, France’s Ambassador to Nigeria, along with representatives from Obafemi Awolowo University, University of Calabar, University of Delta, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, and mini-hub beneficiaries, University of Lagos and Nile University.

At the centre of the recognition is the college’s flagship initiative, “Smart Plastic Collection, Recycling, Education and Training for Sustainable Energy Solutions”,  a project built around turning plastic waste into usable products and energy, backed by training and skills development.

Evaluators singled out the project for its technical soundness, sustainability impact and potential to address Nigeria’s twin plastic pollution and energy problems.

On display were locally made products already showing commercial promise: paving tiles, recycled plastic plates, and syngas production technology.

Separately, the YABATECH team’s new TETFund NRF grant is expected to fund further research, technology development, and moves toward commercialising the project’s output. The team called the grant validation of the calibre of work coming out of the college.

Researchers credited the rector’s leadership and college management’s backing for the project’s momentum and thanked colleagues, including Ogunyemi, Godfrey Okoye, Akeredolu, Rufus Abosede, and Ige Saanu for their contributions.

Next up: turning the prototypes into commercially viable products at scale, work the team says shows how research and international partnership can convert environmental problems into economic opportunity.