British-Nigerian entrepreneur launches solar aquaponics initiative in Ogun State to combat hunger 

A British-Nigerian entrepreneur, Olufemi Opaneye, is spearheading plans to establish a solar-powered aquaponics farm in Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State, aimed at tackling food insecurity, malnutrition and youth unemployment through climate-smart agriculture.

The proposed project, which combines fish farming and soil-free vegetable cultivation in a closed-loop system, is expected to provide free nutritious food for about 500 malnourished children annually while also serving as a training and empowerment hub for local communities.

Speaking on the initiative, Opaneye told Nigerian Tribune that the aquaponics system integrates aquaculture and hydroponics, allowing fish waste to serve as natural fertiliser for vegetables, while the plants simultaneously purify water for the fish.

According to him, the project will run entirely on solar energy with battery storage to ensure uninterrupted operation despite Nigeria’s power supply challenges.

“It is a solar-powered aquaponics farm in my hometown, Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State. The farm combines fish farming and vegetable growing without soil in a closed loop. Fish waste becomes natural fertiliser for the plants and the plants clean the water for the fish,” he said.

He added that the system would eliminate dependence on chemical fertilisers, reduce water consumption by up to 90 per cent compared to traditional farming, and remain operational without reliance on fuel.

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Opaneye said the idea was inspired by worsening food insecurity and rising fertiliser costs in Nigeria.

“Across Nigeria, 32 per cent of children under five are stunted due to hunger. Fertiliser prices have surged by 41 per cent in one year, forcing many farmers to abandon food crops like maize and rice,” he noted.

He also referenced warnings by the United Nations World Food Programme that about 35 million Nigerians could face severe hunger in 2026.

The entrepreneur disclosed that the project seeks to raise £38,000 (about US$50,000) through a GoFundMe campaign and grant funding to cover construction costs, including tanks, solar equipment, pumps, piping, fish feed and fencing.

If funding targets are met by August 2026, construction is expected to begin between September and December 2026.

“We expect to clear the land and order equipment in the first month, install tanks, solar panels and piping in the second month, and then introduce fish fingerlings and begin vegetable harvests in the third month,” he explained.

Opaneye revealed that discussions were ongoing with the Ogun State Ministry of Agriculture regarding possible collaboration and land support for the initiative.

He added that once completed, the farm would be handed over at no cost to a state-approved cooperative or community organisation for long-term management.

“The farm will provide free, year-round food to local families, reduce malnutrition, create jobs, and serve as a training hub for women and young people,” he said.

To ensure sustainability, he explained that the community-run farm would rely on low-cost local fish feed and internally produced fingerlings, while proceeds from surplus fish and vegetable sales would be used for maintenance and repairs.

Opaneye, a former investment banking professional who worked with Morgan Stanley, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank and HSBC before becoming an entrepreneur in 2014, said the project demonstrates how low-tech agricultural innovation can help communities adapt to economic and climate challenges.

He noted that although he is neither an engineer nor an agricultural specialist, he is collaborating with local technical partners to implement the project successfully.

“The solution is not more aid or complicated technology, but practical, proven systems that communities can manage themselves,” he said.