Owolabi Salis, a Nigerian-born lawyer and politician, has become the first Nigerian to journey into space.
He was among six passengers aboard Blue Origin’s NS-33 mission, which lifted off from West Texas on June 29, 2025.
Other crew members included Allie Kuehner, Carl Kuehner, Leland Larson, Freddie Rescigno Jr., and Jim Sitkin.
According to Space in Africa, the 10-minute suborbital flight reached a peak altitude of 105.2 kilometres, crossing the Kármán line — the internationally recognised boundary of space.
“A Spiritual Journey, Not Just Scientific”
Salis described the experience as more than just a scientific milestone.
“This mission is more than just a trip into space, it’s a spiritual journey, a call to inspire future generations,” he said before liftoff.
His flight marks a personal dream fulfilled and a symbol of possibility for young Africans.
Salis is now part of a select group of citizen astronauts to participate in Blue Origin’s New Shepard programme — a project launched by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos to make space accessible to civilians.
From Lagos to the Stars
Born in Ikorodu, Lagos, Salis is a chartered accountant and an attorney licensed to practise in both Nigeria and the United States.
He is also the author of Equitocracy, a book proposing a new democratic model based on fairness and equity.
Beyond law and literature, he is known for pushing limits.
He once became the first Black African to visit both the Arctic and Antarctic in the same season.
Politics, Law, and Passion for Change
Salis has long been active in Nigerian politics.
He contested for the Lagos governorship under the PDP in 2003 and 2007, switched to the Action Party of Nigeria in 2007, and flew the Alliance for Democracy flag in the 2019 elections.
After the 2019 race, he challenged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s victory in court, but the tribunal upheld the election result.
Now, with this space voyage, Salis has etched his name in Nigerian and African history.
He hopes his journey will “inspire interest in space exploration across Africa.”
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