Nigerian Egusi seeds are set to make history as they embark on an unprecedented journey to outer space aboard NASA’s Crew-11 resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
Gatekeepers News reports that the seeds, carefully sourced from Oyo State, will be launched on July 31st at 12:09 PM EDT (5:09 PM Nigerian time) from Cape Canaveral, Florida.
According to Dr. Temidayo Oniosun, the Nigerian space scientist behind the experiment, “This research goes beyond agriculture; it’s about food security, adaptability, and scientific sovereignty in space exploration. If Egusi can survive and thrive after exposure to space conditions, it opens new doors for indigenous crops in extra-terrestrial agriculture.”
The Egusi seeds will undergo rigorous experimental analyses upon their return to Earth, including in vitro germination, spectral imaging, respiration tests, and molecular analysis to identify genetic variations. This research aims to evaluate the nutritional and functional suitability of Egusi seeds for extended human space exploration.
Oniosun’s work is being celebrated as a monumental achievement for Nigerian science, academia, and innovation. The Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Professor Adenike Oladiji, praised Oniosun’s achievement, saying, “As the countdown begins, the world watches not just a rocket launch, but a symbol of African innovation hurtling beyond Earth’s atmosphere, seeded by home-grown potential, nurtured by academic excellence at FUTA, and now touching the stars.”
This groundbreaking initiative marks the first time seeds from Nigeria will be sent to space, highlighting global cooperation in space research and Nigeria’s growing presence in the space industry.
