Boom! Nigerian doctor sends egusi to space, NASA backs it

On July 31, 2025, history was made as a batch of egusi seeds sourced from Oyo State was launched into orbit aboard the SpaceX Crew-11 mission.

Behind the historic feat is Dr. Temidayo Oniosun, a globally recognised space policy expert and proud son of Oyo.

The mission, part of the Seeds in Space project, is a collaborative effort between NASA-affiliated researchers, Jaguar Space LLC, and the Karman Project. Each participant from around the world sent a unique seed into orbit, Dr. Oniosun chose egusi, a staple of Nigerian cuisine and agricultural identity.

“This isn’t just about science. It’s culture. It’s heritage. It’s home,” Oniosun shared in a statement. “To represent Nigeria on a mission this monumental, with something as personal as egusi, means everything.”

The Oyo State Government was quick to applaud the feat on X, hailing it as a blend of tradition and innovation. “This is the first time an agricultural product native to Nigeria will reach the International Space Station,” the state said in a press release titled From Okaka to Orbit, referencing Dr. Oniosun’s Oke-Ogun hometown.

When the seeds return to Earth, they’ll undergo post-flight experiments in collaboration with plant biotechnologists at the University of Florida and researchers in Brazil. The aim: to explore how spaceflight affects crop resilience, genetics, and viability.