From Nigeria to Global Stage: Young Kogi Innovator Salifu Daniel Represents Africa at Blue Food Innovation Summit, Brings Home Blueprint for Aquaculture Growth
What began as a startup pitch in London has evolved into a two-week international learning journey now shaping the future of aquaculture development in Nigeria and across Africa.
Salifu Eyiojotule Daniel, a young innovator from Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State and Founder/CEO of AquaProX Africa, recently represented Nigeria at the Blue Food Innovation Summit in London, United Kingdom, where he emerged as first runner-up in the summit’s global startup pitch competition.
Daniel was the only Nigerian and the sole African selected among seven startups from around the world invited to pitch before an audience of investors, aquaculture executives, researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders. Competing against experienced entrepreneurs from across the global blue food sector, AquaProX Africa secured second place in the audience vote, missing first position by only two votes.
The Blue Food Innovation Summit is regarded as one of the world’s leading events focused on sustainable aquaculture, seafood innovation, food security, investment, and emerging technologies shaping the future of aquatic food systems.
For Daniel, the competition was only the beginning.
As part of opportunities following the summit, he embarked on an aquaculture learning tour across England and Scotland, visiting some of the most advanced aquaculture facilities, universities, technology centres, hatcheries, and feed production companies in the world.
The tour began at ChalkStream Foods in Hampshire, England, where he observed trout farming operations and learned how sustainability, animal welfare, and quality assurance are embedded into daily farm management.
In Scotland, he delivered a seminar at the Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, presenting insights into Nigerian aquaculture, challenges facing African fish farmers, and opportunities for innovation and collaboration between Africa and the United Kingdom.
The journey continued to Forth Marine Hatchery in North Berwick, a lobster conservation and restocking initiative demonstrating the role aquaculture can play in marine ecosystem restoration.
At Bakkafrost Scotland’s salmon farming operations, Daniel witnessed large-scale offshore aquaculture systems supported by real-time monitoring, advanced fish health management, environmental tracking, and predictive decision-making technologies.
He also toured BioMar Scotland, one of the world’s leading aquafeed manufacturers, engaging in discussions on nutrition, sustainability, and the future of fish farming.
“The challenge in Africa is not simply a lack of products or technologies,” Daniel explained. “The challenge is often access to systems, knowledge, monitoring tools, and decision-support mechanisms that help farmers achieve better outcomes.”
The tour extended beyond aquaculture into emerging technologies. At Heriot-Watt University and the National Robotarium in Edinburgh, he explored robotics and artificial intelligence applications designed for agriculture, environmental monitoring, offshore industries, and other sectors.
“Standing face to face with humanoid robots and autonomous systems, I saw opportunities for future adaptation of similar technologies to solve challenges facing African aquaculture producers,” he said.
These lessons align closely with the mission of AquaProX Africa. Founded in 2025, AquaProX Africa is a youth-led organisation focused on advancing sustainable aquaculture, youth empowerment, food security, and blue economy development across Africa.
The organisation’s flagship innovation, AquaProX AI, is being developed in partnership with ObliquePath, a Nigerian AI and automation company. The platform is designed to help fish farmers move from reactive management to predictive management through data-driven insights, early warnings, and intelligent decision-support tools.
AquaProX Africa is also working toward establishing the AquaProX Hub, a multi-purpose centre that will include a practical aquaculture training facility, hatchery section, enterprise incubation centre, innovation laboratory, and technology integration platform for young aquaculture entrepreneurs.
“This trip was never just about me,” Daniel said. “It was about understanding what is possible, building relationships, learning from global leaders, and bringing those lessons home to help strengthen African aquaculture.”
The UK learning tour was made possible through the support of international aquaculture leaders, industry stakeholders, and a crowdfunding campaign backed by supporters of youth-led innovation and sustainable food systems. Key supporters included Melanie Siggs, Global Head of Seafood at LRQA and Honorary Professor at the University of Stirling; Anton Immink and ThinkAqua; alongside industry professionals, researchers, entrepreneurs, and organisations across the United Kingdom.
Today, the relationships formed during the summit and subsequent tour continue to open doors for collaboration between African aquaculture stakeholders and global institutions.
From Olamaboro in Kogi State to London and Scotland, the journey demonstrates that innovation has no geographical boundaries. For Salifu Eyiojotule Daniel and AquaProX Africa, the mission remains clear: to help build a future where African aquaculture is smarter, more productive, more sustainable, and driven by the next generation of innovators.
About AquaProX Africa
AquaProX Africa is a youth-led organisation advancing sustainable aquaculture, food security, youth empowerment, and blue economy development across Africa through technology, training, innovation, and enterprise incubation.
Media Contact:
AquaProX Africa
Email: Salifu.d@aquaproxafrica.com
Phone: +2348079827050
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