Aquaculture Innovator Lilian O. Elekwachi
“I aim to preserve cultural traditions while promoting innovation”
Lilian O. Elekwachi is a pioneering researcher and catfish farmer and processor from Nigeria who is deeply committed to transforming the aquaculture sector. Inspired by the memory of her grandmother, a fish farmer and fish smoker who died of lung cancer, Lilian is driven to create safe and environmentally sustainable solutions that improve livelihoods—especially for women. Lilian’s story exemplifies MMEG’s mission: identify and support exceptional women to acquire the tools provided by higher education to pursue their goals and catalyze change.
MMEG awarded Lilian a $15,000 grant in 2020 to support her pursuit of a PhD at the University of Massachusetts Boston. Lilian says the grant “provided crucial support for my doctoral work.” Her groundbreaking PhD research focused on developing a novel hybrid fish smoking technology that integrates solar energy and biomass, improving both the efficiency and safety of fish processing while addressing pressing environmental issues.
Lilian says “my project aims to implement a hybrid fish smoking technology that not only improves the quality and safety of smoked fish but also supports economic development and food security in Nigeria. I aim to preserve cultural traditions while promoting innovation in fish processing.” This innovation is particularly significant in Nigeria, where about 90% of fish smokers are women.
Since completing her PhD, Lilian has developed her technology to smoke fish faster than traditional methods while maintaining the quality and taste of the fish, eliminating harmful residues, and boosting fish processors’ export prospects. Among other considerations, her technology focuses on economic viability, environmental impact, and compliance with international food safety standards.
Lilian has garnered numerous accolades, including the 2024 AAUW American Dissertation Fellowship and the 2023 John A Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship from MIT Sea Grant. At a MMEG Talk at the World Bank in 2024, she impressed World Bank and other attendees with an explanation of her work.
With a clear vision for scaling up her hybrid smoking technology, Lilian is dedicated to enhancing food security and economic development in Nigeria. She says, “Empowering women through sustainable aquaculture is not just an investment in their future but in the future of our communities and our planet.”
