Egusi Goes to Space: Nigeria Makes History with First Agricultural Item in Orbit

In a groundbreaking move that places Nigeria on the map of global space research, egusi seeds sourced from Oyo State are set to travel to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of a multinational agricultural science mission. This marks the first time a crop native to West Africa—and any item from Nigeria—will enter orbit.

The initiative is led by Nigerian space scientist and entrepreneur, Dr. Temidayo Oniosun, in collaboration with Jaguar Space and The Karman Project. The mission is part of a project titled “Emerging Space Nations: Space for Agriculture and Agriculture for Space,” which seeks to explore how traditional seeds respond to conditions in space, such as microgravity and radiation.

Egusi will be joined by three other culturally significant crops: Egyptian cotton, Armenian pomegranate, and Pakistani wheat. The scientific goal is to understand how these seeds behave in space to advance research on growing food during long-term space missions and to improve agricultural resilience to climate change on Earth.

Egusi, a staple in Nigerian households and central to local cuisine and rural economies, was selected not only for its cultural relevance but also for its potential contributions to food security. The mission aims to showcase the seed’s nutritional and scientific value while highlighting Nigeria’s growing role in international research and space exploration.

“This is more than a space mission,” said Dr. Oniosun. “It’s a statement of what’s possible when local heritage meets global innovation. Egusi symbolizes our culture, our science, and our future.”

Mission Timeline:

• Launch (Crew-11): July 31, 12:09 PM (EDT), from Cape Canaveral/Kennedy Space Center, Florida
• ISS Docking: August 2, 3:00 PM (EDT)
• Crew-10 Undocking: August 5 or 6 (Time TBD)
• Crew-10 Return (Splashdown): Expected August 6 or 7

Mission Partners:

• Jaguar Space – Scientific coordinator and mission integrator
• The Karman Project – Leadership and international outreach
• Dr. Temidayo Oniosun – Principal Investigator, Nigeria

As the launch date approaches, the mission is drawing widespread attention not only for its scientific goals but also for what it represents: a new era of African participation in space exploration. For Nigeria, the egusi seed is no longer just a symbol of tradition—it’s now a beacon of possibility.