A lecturer in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Engr. Tairu Onawale Toyin, has secured a N41 million research grant from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).
The research grant was for a ground breaking project aimed at improving waste management and perishable food storage in Nigeria.
The research project, titled: “Smart Waste Management and Cold Chain Logistics: Integrating IoT and Biogas for Efficient Perishable Food Storage,” was selected among 174 research proposals approved for funding under TETFund’s 2026 National Research Fund intervention.
The Federal Government, through TETFund, approved a total of N7.5 billion in grants to support innovative research projects across universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education nationwide.
The grants, ranging from N13.6 million to N49.97 million per project, are designed to address critical national development challenges through practical, technology-driven solutions.
Engr. Onawale’s research focused on leveraging the Internet of Things (IoT) and renewable biogas technology to develop an integrated system for managing organic waste while enhancing cold chain logistics for the storage and preservation of perishable agricultural products.
The project is expected to contribute significantly to reducing post-harvest losses, improving food security, promoting environmental sustainability, and supporting Nigeria’s transition towards cleaner energy solutions.
Speaking on the development, the Rector of Yabatech, Dr. Ibraheem Abdul, described the grant award as a major recognition of the institution’s growing research capacity and commitment to providing innovative solutions to national challenges.
He noted that the success of Engr. Tairu further reinforces YABATECH’s position as a leading polytechnic in applied research, technology development, and industry-focused innovation.
Engr. Abdul added that the award represents another milestone in its quest to strengthen research excellence and foster innovations capable of addressing pressing socio-economic and environmental challenges facing the nation.
The Rector hailed the TETFund initiative as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s knowledge economy, noting that research outcomes from the funded projects are expected to generate new products and services, enhance productivity, create employment opportunities, and contribute to national economic growth.
Other polytechnics selected to benefit from the intervention alongside Yabatech were Federal Polytechnic Ilaro, Federal Polytechnic Bida, Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Kaduna Polytechnic, and several other tertiary institutions across the country.
