Egusi Goes to Space: Why Nigeria chose its most cultural dish for historic space experiment – Dr. Oniosun

Egusi seeds have become the first Nigerian object in orbit, marking a new milestone in the country’s space exploration ambitions.

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Launched aboard NASA’s Crew-11 mission via a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, the seeds were part of a pioneering project led by Dr. Temidayo Oniosun, the Founder and Managing Director of Space in Africa.

Why Egusi? A Cultural Symbol Beyond Borders

Speaking on Channels TV on Friday, Dr. Oniosun explained the deliberate and symbolic choice of egusi over other beloved Nigerian dishes like ogbono or fisherman soup.

For him, the selection went beyond taste or availability, it was about identity.

“I think Egusi is the most cultural dish in Nigeria. Everyone lays claim to it — the Yorubas, the Igbos. It connects across tribes and across borders,” Oniosun said.

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He added, “There’s no better dish that says, ‘I’m Nigerian,’ than Egusi.”

He added that the soup has not only united Nigerians at home but also serves as a nostalgic cultural link for those in the diaspora, noting that egusi is widely consumed across West Africa.

The project, which places egusi seeds aboard the International Space Station (ISS), is part of an experimental initiative to test the resilience of Nigerian crops in space conditions.

Honoured to be part of a global space mission alongside brilliant people from around the world, each sending a seed to orbit through Seeds in Space.

Proud to represent Nigeria with egusi, and grateful to @JaguarSpace_LLC and @KarmanProject for making it possible.

The link to… pic.twitter.com/WL6BVjreVg

— Dr. Temidayo Oniosun (@TemidayoOniosun) July 31, 2025

The broader goal? Exploring their potential use in space agriculture, a crucial frontier for future deep-space missions and even colonisation.

“This is just the beginning. We plan to send more Nigerian seeds and food items to space. So for those wondering about ogbono or afang soup, be patient, we’re not done yet,” Dr. Oniosun said.

Feeding Aliens? “A Possibility,” Says Oniosun

In a light-hearted but thought-provoking exchange, the Space in Africa chief responded to a question about feeding aliens with Nigerian cuisine:“I mean, yeah, that’s a possibility,” he laughed.

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“We don’t know what the seed will become when it returns — maybe it’ll germinate into something else. That’s the beauty of experimentation.”

Historic First for Nigeria

The launch marks Nigeria’s first organic object in space, and it has captured national attention. The symbolic act is already inspiring young scientists, cultural enthusiasts, and space dreamers across the continent.

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According to Dr. Oniosun, this initiative is part of a longer-term plan to position Nigeria at the forefront of Africa’s space ecosystem, blending indigenous knowledge with advanced research.

The experiment’s outcome may also inform future food production strategies in extraterrestrial environments.