US-Based Lawyer Becomes First Nigerian To Travel To Space

Nigerian-born lawyer and politician Owolabi Salis has made history as the first Nigerian to travel to space.

Salis was among six passengers aboard Blue Origin’s NS-33 mission, which launched from West Texas on Sunday.

Joining him on the suborbital flight were Allie Kuehner, Carl Kuehner, Leland Larson, Freddie Rescigno Jr., and Jim Sitkin.

Operated by Jeff Bezos’ aerospace company, Blue Origin, the flight lasted 10 minutes and reached a peak altitude of 105.2 kilometres — surpassing the Kármán line, the internationally recognised boundary of space.

Speaking before the flight, Salis said, “This mission is more than just a trip into space, it’s a spiritual journey, a call to inspire future generations.”

Salis also expressed hope that his journey would inspire greater interest in space exploration across Africa.

Born in Ikorodu, Lagos, he is a chartered accountant and attorney licensed to practise in both Nigeria and the United States.

Salis is the author of Equitocracy, a book advocating fairness and equity in democratic governance.

He previously made history as the first Black African to visit both the Arctic and Antarctic in the same season.

In Nigeria, he is also known for his political involvement, having contested multiple elections, including running as the Alliance for Democracy’s governorship candidate in Lagos in 2019.