Why we sent Egusi to space – Dr. Oniosun

Dr Temidayo Oniosun holding Egusi specimen.

Founder and Managing Director of Space in Africa, Dr. Temidayo Oniosun has explained why egusi was chosen over other Nigerian ingredients such as ogbono or fisherman soup, stating that cultural symbolism was a key factor in the decision.

During an interview on Channels TV on Friday, he said, “I think personally, and, you know, this is a personal experience or personal story. I think that Egusi is the most cultural dish in Nigeria. You know, everybody eats Egusi. The Yorubas lay claim to Egusi that it originated from them. Even the Igbos also, they do the same.

“They say, oh, you know, Egusi is from Igbo land. So a lot of people lay claim to its origin and I don’t think there is a better dish that says, ‘See, I’m Nigerian,’ than Egusi. Even people in the diaspora can connect to this. And it has also traveled way beyond Nigeria. If you go across West Africa, you know, people are eating Egusi.”

He added that the space seed experiment was only the beginning of a broader initiative. Punch