Owolabi Salis, a Nigerian-born lawyer and politician, has become the first Nigerian to journey into space. On June 29, 2025, Salis joined five other passengers aboard Blue Origin’s NS-33 mission, launched from West Texas.
Salis' fellow crew members included Allie Kuehner, Carl Kuehner, Leland Larson, Freddie Rescigno Jr., and Jim Sitkin.
The 10-minute suborbital flight reached a peak altitude of 105.2 kilometers, crossing the Kármán line, the internationally recognized boundary of space. Salis is now part of the select group of citizen astronauts who have flown under Blue Origin's New Shepard program, a private space initiative founded by Jeff Bezos.
Salis described the mission as both a scientific pursuit and a profound personal milestone, saying, "This mission is more than just a trip into space, it’s a spiritual journey, a call to inspire future generations."
As a long-time advocate for youth empowerment, Salis hopes his journey will spark interest in science and space exploration among young Africans.
Salis' achievement marks a significant milestone for Nigeria's space exploration aspirations.
He is a US-based lawyer, politician, and spiritual leader from Ikorodu, Lagos, known for advocating grassroots development and authoring "Equitocracy," a political treatise promoting fairness and inclusion.
