In a major milestone for Nigeria and the entire West African region, egusi melon seeds sourced from Oyo State are set to travel to the International Space Station as part of a multinational agricultural science mission. This marks the first time an agricultural product native to West Africa will go to space, and the first time any object from Nigeria will enter orbit.
The mission is being led by Nigerian space scientist and entrepreneur Dr. Temidayo Oniosun, in collaboration with Jaguar Space and The Karman Project. The egusi seed will be launched alongside three other culturally significant crops: Egyptian cotton, Armenian pomegranate, and Pakistani wheat, as part of a research initiative focused on the future of food in space.
The project, titled “Emerging Space Nations: Space for Agriculture and Agriculture for Space,” is designed to study how traditional seeds respond to spaceflight. Scientists will observe the biological effects of microgravity and radiation to better understand how to grow food during long-duration space missions and develop more climate-resilient agriculture on Earth.
Egusi was selected to represent Nigeria for both its cultural and scientific relevance. The seed plays a major role in Nigerian cuisine, rural livelihoods, and food security. Sending it to space brings global attention to its nutritional value and highlights the role of indigenous crops in solving future agricultural challenges.
This groundbreaking mission also aligns with Oyo State’s ongoing commitment to agricultural transformation, food security, and youth-driven innovation under the leadership of Governor Seyi Makinde. From agritech investments to rural development programmes, the state has been actively championing sustainable agriculture as a tool for economic growth.
The inclusion of egusi- a crop widely cultivated across Oyo, in a global space experiment underscores the state’s potential to contribute meaningfully to both national development and international science.
The project places Nigeria at the forefront of emerging space research, where traditional knowledge and modern science come together to address global challenges.
The seeds will launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Center in
Florida on July 31 at 12:09 PM local time. It is scheduled to dock with the International Space Station on August 2 at 3:00 PM US Eastern Time.
After a short stay in orbit, the return flight is expected to undock around August 5 or 6, with splashdown planned for August 6 or 7
About Dr. Temidayo Oniosun:
Dr. Temidayo Oniosun is a Nigerian space scientist, entrepreneur, and founder of Space in Africa, a leading space consulting and research firm.
Through his work, Dr. Oniosun is helping shape Africa’s role in the global space economy.
This mission adds to the growing impact of Dr. Oniosun’s work, both globally and at home. Born in Okaka, Oke-Ogun, Oyo State, Dr. Temidayo has become one of the leading figures in the global space economy. He is the founder of Space in Africa, Africa’s top consulting firm in the space industry, and a research affiliate at MIT Media Lab. He has worked with the
African Union, European Commission, and NASA, and currently serves on the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Space Technologies. Despite his international reach, he remains deeply committed to his roots.
In 2023, he funded a fully equipped ICT centre in his hometown, bringing satellite-powered internet and digital training to hundreds of young people.
Through educational sponsorships, startup investments, and frontier research, he continues to build both opportunity and infrastructure in Oyo. With the Egusi-to-Space mission, he is not only taking Nigerian culture into orbit, he is placing Oyo State on the global map of innovation.
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