Nigerian-born lawyer and politician Owolabi Salis has made history by becoming the first Nigerian to travel to space.
Salis was one of six passengers aboard Blue Origin’s NS-33 mission, which successfully launched from West Texas on Sunday, June 29, 2025.
The crew included Allie Kuehner, Carl Kuehner, Leland Larson, Freddie Rescigno Jr., and Jim Sitkin.
The suborbital flight, conducted by Jeff Bezos’ aerospace company Blue Origin, lasted approximately 10 minutes and achieved a peak altitude of 105.2 kilometers, surpassing the Kármán line, which is the internationally recognised boundary of space..
Speaking before the flight, Salis said, “This mission is more than just a trip into space, it’s a spiritual journey, a call to inspire future generations.”
He also expressed hope that his journey would encourage interest in space exploration across Africa.
Born in Ikorodu, Lagos, Salis is a chartered accountant and attorney licensed to practise in both Nigeria and the United States.
He is also the author of Equitocracy, a book that promotes fairness and equity in democratic governance.
Salis was the first Black African to visit both the Arctic and Antarctic in the same season.
He is also known in Nigerian politics, having contested several elections, including as the Alliance for Democracy’s governorship candidate in Lagos in 2019.
