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Why we sent Egusi to space – Dr. Oniosun

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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.

“This is the first stage of this experiment. We’re going to send more stuff to space in the future. And so for people that are curious about other soup, other dishes, or other seeds, we’re going to send more.”

Dr. Oniosun stated that feeding aliens with egusi is not out of the question, as Nigerian seeds now form part of an experiment in space.

Responding to a question whether the project was designed to “feed aliens,” Oniosun replied:

“I mean, yeah, that’s a possibility. You know, some people have also been asking, you know, what would happen to the seed? But, you know, we don’t know. Maybe we’ll bring the seeds back and then, you know, we’ll plant it and it will germinate something else. We don’t know.

“And that’s why we’re doing all of these experiments. So I think it’s very exciting. And, you know, personally, I’m looking forward to all of the things that we’ll learn from this experience.”

On Thursday, Nigerian egusi seeds became the first Nigerian object in orbit, launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket for NASA’s Crew-11 mission to the ISS.

Led by Dr. Oniosun of Space in Africa, the project tests egusi’s resilience in space conditions to explore its potential for space agriculture.

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Every Nigerian should learn combat skills for self-defence – CDS Gen Musa

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The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has urged all Nigerians to learn combat skills to protect themselves in the face of danger.

General Musa gave this advice on Thursday when he appeared as a guest on Politics Today, a programme on Channels Television.

He likened the acquisition of combat skills to driving, swimming, and other essential survival skills.

When asked whether he would advise Nigerians to learn combat skills for self-defence, General Musa said, “That one should be taken as learning driving, learning how to swim. Whether we have war or not, it is a survival instinct.

“In Europe, swimming is compulsory; [so is] Learning and teaching about security because you have to learn what security is.”

According to him, the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, should train Nigerian graduates in unarmed combat skills for day-to-day survival against dark-hearted men.

The defence chief further explained that security is the responsibility of all Nigerians, even as he urged citizens to remain situationally aware of their surroundings to identify strange and suspicious individuals.

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Uganda reaches agreement with US Govt to take in migrants

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Uganda has entered an agreement with the United States to take in nationals from third countries who may not get asylum in the U.S. but are reluctant to return to their countries of origin, the foreign affairs ministry said on Thursday, August 21.

President Donald Trump aims to deport millions of immigrants who entered the U.S. illegally, and his administration has sought to increase removals to third countries, including by sending convicted criminals to South Sudan and Eswatini.

“This is a temporary arrangement with conditions including that individuals with criminal records and unaccompanied minors will not be accepted,” Vincent Bagiire Waiswa, the ministry’s permanent secretary, said in a statement.

Waiswa added that Uganda would prefer to receive people from African nationalities under the agreement.

“The two parties are working out the detailed modalities on how the agreement shall be implemented,” he said.

On Wednesday, another Ugandan foreign affairs official had denied a U.S. media report that the East African country had agreed to take in people deported from the United States, saying it lacked the facilities to accommodate them.

Uganda, a U.S. ally in East Africa, also hosts nearly two million refugees and asylum-seekers, who mostly hail from countries in the region such as Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan and Sudan.

In July, five immigrants from Vietnam, Jamaica, Laos, Yemen and Cuba, who Washington said had been convicted of serious crimes, were flown to Eswatini, where they are now in a high-security prison. The deportations are being challenged by a group of Swazi and southern African NGOs, with a high court hearing scheduled for Friday.

Also in July, eight men from various countries were deported by the US to South Sudan, via Djibouti, where they were held for weeks in a shipping container. Meanwhile, more than 250 Venezuelans were repatriated to Venezuela after being sent to a notorious El Salvador prison in March without due process.

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FRSC rewards officer for rejecting 104 bribes in one month

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The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has honoured Assistant Route Commander Babatunde Owoeye of the Osun State Sector Command for his exemplary integrity in July 2025.

The commendation was held during a ceremony on Wednesday, August 20, 2025 at the Osun State Command headquarters.

Records show that Owoeye rejected bribes from traffic offenders on 104 separate occasions.

He also turned down bribe attempts 18 times in May and 38 times in June, reflecting a consistent commitment to ethical conduct in service.

Speaking during the ceremony, Sector Commander Leye Adegboyega lauded Owoeye, stating that his conduct mirrors the FRSC’s long-standing policy against corruption and extortion among its personnel.

Adegboyega added that the recognition aligns with the anti-corruption agenda of the Corps Marshal, Sheu Mohammed, as well as the commission’s broader efforts to promote professionalism and accountability.

“For his exceptional integrity, Assistant Route Commander Babatunde J. Owoeye has been awarded a commendation and a cash gift of N250,000. He recorded 104 ‘Attempt to Corrupt Marshal on Duty’ (ACS) cases in July alone — a feat that is unprecedented in the command’s history,” Adegboyega said.

The FRSC reiterated its zero-tolerance stance on bribery and assured the public that honesty and discipline within its ranks would continue to be recognised and rewarded.

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