WEST TEXAS, USA — Owolabi Salis, a Nigerian-born lawyer, accountant, and former Lagos governorship candidate, has made history as the first Nigerian to travel to space, joining the ranks of private astronauts aboard Blue Origin’s NS-33 mission.
The suborbital flight lifted off on Saturday, June 29, 2025, from Blue Origin’s launch site in West Texas, carrying Salis and five other crewmates — Allie Kuehner, Carl Kuehner, Leland Larson, Freddie Rescigno Jr., and Jim Sitkin — past the Kármán line, the internationally recognised boundary of space.
The spacecraft reached a peak altitude of 105.2 kilometres, completing a 10-minute journey aboard the New Shepard rocket.
Salis’ achievement marks a milestone not only for Nigeria but for the African continent, expanding the presence of Black Africans in commercial space travel.
Speaking ahead of the flight, Salis described the experience as deeply personal and transformative.
“This mission is more than just a trip into space. It’s a spiritual journey, a call to inspire future generations,” he said.
He expressed hope that his journey would awaken interest in science and space exploration across Africa, particularly among the continent’s youth.
Born in Ikorodu, Lagos, Salis is a chartered accountant and licensed attorney in both Nigeria and the United States.
He is also the author of Equitocracy, a political manifesto proposing a new democratic system anchored in fairness, equity, and pluralism.
Known for his adventurous spirit, Salis previously made headlines as the first Black African to visit both the Arctic and Antarctic within the same season, a feat he completed before setting his sights on space.
His space journey was made possible through Blue Origin’s New Shepard programme — a private spaceflight initiative by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos aimed at enabling citizen astronauts to experience suborbital space travel.
Beyond his scientific exploits, Salis is a familiar figure in Nigerian politics. He sought the governorship of Lagos State on multiple platforms — including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2003 and 2007, the Action Party of Nigeria in 2007, and the Alliance for Democracy (AD) in 2019.
He contested the 2019 elections and later challenged the results in court, questioning Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s victory — though the petition was ultimately dismissed.
Salis’ flight represents a symbolic leap for Nigeria in global innovation, tech, and space exploration.
With his historic achievement, he joins the growing list of African pioneers pushing boundaries in a rapidly evolving aerospace era.
“Africa must not be left behind,” Salis said in a post-flight message.
“We have the talent, the intellect, and the spirit of discovery. Let this journey be the spark.”
Salis now becomes part of a select group of African space travellers, including South Africa’s Mark Shuttleworth, who became the first African in space in 2002, and Egypt’s Mohammed Faris, a payload specialist aboard a Soviet mission in the 1980s.
