By Okpere Sharon Omoye,
Historic Feat: Owolabi Salis Becomes First Nigerian in Space
History was made on June 29, 2025, as United States-based Nigerian lawyer and politician, Owolabi Salis, became the first Nigerian to travel into space.
Salis joined five other private astronauts on board Blue Origin’s NS-33 suborbital flight, launched from West Texas, USA.
The brief journey, which lasted about 10 minutes, took the crew beyond the Kármán line, a point 100 kilometers above Earth that is widely recognized as the boundary between Earth’s atmosphere and outer space.
The spacecraft reached a peak altitude of 105.2 kilometers, giving the passengers a rare and thrilling experience of weightlessness and a view of Earth from above.
Salis flew alongside Allie Kuehner, Carl Kuehner, Leland Larson, Freddie Rescigno Jr, and Jim Sitkin. The mission was part of Blue Origin’s New Shepard programme, which is led by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.
The goal of the programme is to make space travel accessible to civilians who may not have professional astronaut training.
In a statement before the launch, Salis described the mission as more than just a physical journey. “This mission is more than just a trip into space,” he said. “It’s a spiritual journey, a call to inspire future generations.”
He also expressed hope that his achievement would motivate young Africans to explore careers in science, technology, engineering, and space exploration. “I want this to show young people, especially in Africa, that the sky is not the limit, it’s just the beginning.”
Born in Ikorodu, Lagos State, Salis is a man of many achievements. He is both a chartered accountant and a licensed attorney, qualified to practice in both Nigeria and the United States.
In addition to his professional work, he is also a writer and political thinker. He is the author of “Equitocracy,” a political book that promotes fairness, equality, and justice in governance.
This spaceflight is not the first time Salis has done something extraordinary. He previously made headlines as the first Black African to visit both the Arctic and Antarctic within the same season, an impressive environmental and travel accomplishment that very few have achieved.
Salis is also known in Nigeria as a long-time political aspirant. He first entered the political scene in 2003 when he contested for the governorship of Lagos State under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
He tried again in 2007, also under PDP, and in the same year ran under the Action Party of Nigeria. In 2019, he was the governorship candidate for the Alliance for Democracy (AD).
After the 2019 elections, Salis legally challenged the result that declared Babajide Sanwo-Olu as the winner. However, the election tribunal dismissed his petition, upholding Sanwo-Olu’s victory.
Despite setbacks in politics, Salis has continued to pursue personal and professional goals that go beyond national borders.
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His recent journey to space now places him among the few civilians worldwide who have experienced spaceflight, and the first Nigerian ever to do so.
The success of the NS-33 flight is part of the growing global trend of commercial space tourism, where private individuals can book short space trips.
While this type of travel is still expensive and limited to a few, it signals a future where space may become more accessible.
With this historic feat, Owolabi Salis joins a small but growing list of Africans who have gone to space and adds a new chapter to Nigeria’s presence on the global scientific and exploratory stage.
As space tourism continues to evolve and expand globally, Owolabi Salis’ achievement stands as a powerful reminder that Nigerians can take their place among global pioneers.
His voyage not only adds Nigeria to the growing list of nations represented in space but also serves as an inspiration for young Africans to pursue careers in science, innovation, and exploration, fields once considered out of reach.