Owolabi Salis Makes History as First Nigerian in Space

US-based Nigerian lawyer and politician Owolabi Salis became the first Nigerian to travel to space on June 29, 2025. He was one of six passengers aboard Blue Origin’s NS-33 suborbital mission, which launched from West Texas and reached a peak altitude of 105.2 kilometers, crossing the internationally recognized Kármán line—the boundary of space.

The 10-minute flight, part of Jeff Bezos’s New Shepard program, offers civilians a rare chance to experience space travel without astronaut training. Salis described the journey as both a scientific and spiritual milestone, expressing hope that his achievement will inspire African youth to pursue STEM fields and space exploration.

Born in Ikorodu, Lagos, Salis is a chartered accountant and licensed attorney in Nigeria and the US. He is also an author and a seasoned adventurer, having been the first Black African to visit both the Arctic and Antarctic in the same season. Politically active, Salis has contested several Lagos governorship elections under different parties.

ADVERTISEMENT

While Blue Origin has not officially disclosed ticket prices for the NS-33 mission, industry estimates place the cost of a 10-minute suborbital flight at around $285,000 (approximately 450 million Naira).

This historic flight places Salis among a select group of citizen astronauts pioneering private space travel and marks a significant milestone for Nigeria and Africa’s presence in space exploration.