by Willy Okonji-
In a historic moment that has captured the imagination of a continent, US-based Nigerian lawyer and political figure, Owolabi Salis, has become the first Nigerian to journey into space, marking a groundbreaking chapter in African aerospace history.
Salis was one of six space tourists aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard NS-33 mission, which lifted off successfully from West Texas on June 29, 2025. The suborbital flight lasted just over 10 minutes, soaring past the Kármán line, the internationally recognized boundary of space, at an altitude of 105.2 kilometers.
“This mission is more than just a trip into space, it’s a spiritual journey,” Salis said before liftoff. “A call to inspire future generations.”
Joining Salis on the mission were Allie Kuehner, Carl Kuehner, Leland Larson, Freddie Rescigno Jr., and Jim Sitkin, all part of Blue Origin’s effort to open up space travel to private citizens across the globe.
Born in Ikorodu, Lagos, Salis’ ascent from the bustling streets of Nigeria to the edge of the Earth’s atmosphere is both a personal triumph and a milestone for Africa. His flight symbolizes a powerful shift in the global space narrative, one that now includes voices and visions from the African continent.
“Let this be a signal to young Africans: the sky is not the limit, space is,” Salis declared upon his return to Earth.
No stranger to extreme exploration, Salis previously made history by becoming the first Black African to visit both the Arctic and Antarctic in the same season. Now, his journey to space adds another bold entry to his resume of daring frontiers.
In addition to his professional career as a chartered accountant and lawyer licensed in both Nigeria and the United States, Salis has been a notable figure in Nigerian politics. He previously contested for the governorship of Lagos State under various political platforms including the PDP, Action Party, and Alliance for Democracy. In 2019, he mounted a legal challenge to the election victory of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, though the tribunal ultimately upheld the results.
Salis is also the author of Equitocracy, a political treatise advocating for democratic reform based on equity, fairness, and inclusive governance.
His latest achievement, however, has launched him into a different orbit entirely, literally and figuratively. By becoming Nigeria’s first spacefarer, Salis hopes to ignite broader African participation in science, technology, and cosmic exploration.
“This is a new dawn,” he said. “We must now think beyond borders and beyond Earth.”
As Salis returns to Earth, his message resonates far beyond the space capsule: Africa belongs in the stars.
