US-based Nigerian lawyer and perennial Lagos governorship contender, Owolabi Salis, has made history as the first Nigerian to travel into space.
Salis was one of six private astronauts aboard Blue Origin’s NS-33 suborbital flight, which lifted off from West Texas on 29 June 2025.
The mission, part of Jeff Bezos’ New Shepard programme, reached an altitude of 105.2 kilometres crossing the Kármán line, the internationally recognised boundary of outer space.
Joining Salis on the 10-minute journey were Allie Kuehner, Carl Kuehner, Leland Larson, Freddie Rescigno Jr, and Jim Sitkin. The trip marked another milestone in the commercialisation of space travel, offering civilians the rare chance to reach space without formal astronaut training.
Before launch, Salis described the mission as a “spiritual journey” and urged young Africans to be inspired to pursue careers in science, technology, and space exploration.
A native of Ikorodu, Lagos State, Salis is a chartered accountant and attorney qualified to practise in both Nigeria and the US.
He is also the author of Equitocracy, a political treatise promoting social justice and inclusive governance.
Salis is no stranger to historic exploits, having previously become the first Black African to reach both the Arctic and Antarctic within the same season.
In politics, Salis has repeatedly sought the Lagos governorship, contesting under various platforms including the PDP, Action Party of Nigeria, and Alliance for Democracy.
He challenged the 2019 election outcome in court, though the petition was ultimately dismissed.
His latest accomplishment adds a cosmic chapter to an already unconventional public life.
