FUTA alumnus sends egusi seeds to space

In a historic first for Nigeria and Africa at large, egusi (melon) seeds, a staple in West African cuisine, are set to journey to outer space as part of a pioneering scientific experiment led by Nigerian space scientist and Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) alumnus, Temidayo Oniosun.

The initiative, which aims to assess the nutritional and functional suitability of egusi seeds in long-term human space exploration, will launch on July 31 at 12:09 PM EDT (5:09 PM Nigerian time) aboard NASA’s Crew-11 resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS) from Cape Canaveral, Florida.

This ground-breaking experiment marks the first time seeds from Nigeria will be sent to space, thanks to a collaboration with The Karman Project and Jaguar Space LLC, two organisations committed to advancing global space cooperation and research.

Temidayo Oniosun, a leading voice in the African space tech community, shared the significance of this moment via social media, saying, “I am sending egusi seeds to outer space to assess their suitability for nutritional and functional applications in long-term human space exploration. This is the first time in history that seeds from Nigeria will be going to space.”

The egusi seeds, sourced from Oyo State, will be aboard the same launch as payloads managed by NASA astronaut and U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander Jonny Kim, who has been assigned to oversee the transfer of experimental items between the Crew-11 Dragon spacecraft, the ISS, and Crew-10 Dragon.

Upon return to Earth, the egusi seeds will undergo rigorous experimental analysis in collaboration with Dr. Wagner Vendrame, a renowned Professor of Ornamental Micro propagation and Cryopreservation at the University of Florida.

Dr. Vendrame leads a globally recognised research programme focused on plant tissue culture and cryopreservation, with applications in orchids, ornamental trees, foliage plants, and palms.

The post-spaceflight research will involve: In vitro germination to observe any morphological or physiological changes and enable cloning of distinct variants; spectral imaging for non-destructive seed integrity and viability analysis; respiration tests using a respirometer to evaluate seed metabolic activity, and molecular analysis by a collaborator in Brazil to identify gene expression variations that could explain any changes observed after space exposure.

“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,” Oniosun noted.

Temidayo Oniosun’s work is being widely celebrated as a monumental achievement for Nigerian science, academia, and innovation.

A graduate of FUTA and an advocate for Africa’s representation in global space discussions, Oniosun’s space experiment places Nigeria on the world map in the realm of astro-agriculture.

The vice chancellor of FUTA, Professor Adenike Oladiji, is thrilled by the development and the role of one of the institutions alumni “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 the Federal University of Technology Akure Nigeria, and now touching the stars.”

Oniosun graduated with a Bachelor of Technology degree in Meteorology from the Federal University of Technology, Akure in 2016 and has a master’s degree in satellite applications from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow. He earned his Ph.D. at the University of Delaware.

In May 2015, as a student of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, he led the University space club to launch a balloon to space in a contest.

In 2016, he was the recipient of the International Astronautical Federation Emerging Space Leadership Award for his work in the space industry.

He was elected the regional coordinator for Africa for the Space Generation Advisory Council in February 2017 and re-elected for a second term in 2019.

ALSO READ TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE