Egusi melon seeds sourced from Oyo State are set to make history as the first agricultural product from West Africa, and the first item from Nigeria, to enter orbit, The PUNCH has learnt.
According to a statement, the space-bound seeds will be launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Centre, Florida, as part of a multinational agricultural science mission to the International Space Station.
The Crew-11 mission is scheduled to launch on July 31 at 12:09 PM local time (EDT) and dock with the International Space Station on August 2. The launch will be executed using a Falcon 9 rocket provided by SpaceX.
The project, titled ‘Emerging Space Nations: Space for Agriculture and Agriculture for Space,’ is focused on understanding how culturally significant crops adapt to space conditions and the implications for food systems on Earth.
The mission is led by Nigerian space scientist and entrepreneur Dr. Temidayo Oniosun, in collaboration with Jaguar Space and The Karman Project, a global non-profit dedicated to inclusive space exploration.
Oniosun described the development as a milestone for Nigeria and the West African region. He said, “This is the first time any object from Nigeria will enter orbit. Egusi was selected to represent Nigeria for both its cultural and scientific relevance.”
Alongside egusi, the mission will also send Egyptian cotton, Armenian pomegranate, and Pakistani wheat to space for comparative analysis.
Oniosun explained that the experiment aims to study the biological effects of microgravity and radiation on the seeds, stating, “This initiative is designed to better understand how to grow food during long-duration space missions and improve climate-resilient agriculture on Earth.”
He added that egusi’s inclusion in the mission reflects its vital role in Nigerian cuisine, food security, and rural economies.
“Sending it to space shines a spotlight on its nutritional value and opens new possibilities for agricultural research, international collaboration, and space-based innovation,” Oniosun said.
Project partners listed include Jaguar Space as the mission integrator and scientific coordinator, The Karman Project for international leadership and outreach, and Oniosun as Nigeria’s principal investigator.
“This mission positions Nigeria at the centre of a new wave of global space activity, where traditional knowledge and scientific research go hand in hand,” said the organisers.
