Owolabi Salis, a Nigerian-born lawyer and politician based in the US, has become the first Nigerian to travel to space.
On June 29, 2025, Salis joined five other private astronauts aboard Blue Origin’s NS-33 suborbital flight from West Texas. The 10-minute journey crossed the Kármán line, the internationally recognized edge of space, reaching an altitude of 105.2 kilometres.
Salis described the mission as more than just a scientific trip. He called it a “spiritual journey” meant to inspire future generations, especially young Africans, to pursue science, technology, and space exploration. Born in Ikorodu, Lagos, Salis is also a chartered accountant and attorney licensed to practice in Nigeria and the US. He authored Equitocracy, a book advocating fairness and equity in democracy.
Before this, Salis made history as the first Black African to visit both the Arctic and Antarctic in the same season. He has also been active in Lagos politics, running for governor under different parties over the years.
Blue Origin’s New Shepard programme, led by Jeff Bezos, aims to make space travel accessible to civilians without the need for traditional astronaut training. Salis’s flight marks a proud moment for Nigeria, opening doors for more Africans to dream beyond Earth.
Salis hopes his journey will spark curiosity and ambition among African youths, encouraging them to explore the vast possibilities in science and space technology.
