The Federal Government, through the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), has congratulated Chief Owolabi Salis on his historic journey into space, marking him as the first person of Nigerian birth to achieve this milestone. Salis’s feat, completed aboard Blue Origin’s NS-33 mission, was hailed by the agency as a turning point in the nation’s space narrative.
In a statement released on Tuesday, NASRDA’s Director of Media and Corporate Communications, Dr. Felix Ale, described the privately funded spaceflight as a bold demonstration of Nigerian capability and global relevance in the evolving space economy.
“This achievement highlights new opportunities for private sector engagement in Nigeria’s space programme and shines international attention on the nation’s growing capabilities,” Ale stated.
According to the agency, Salis’s journey into space underscores a critical shift in the country’s space ambitions—from purely government-led efforts to a more inclusive approach that welcomes private initiative and citizen-driven innovation.
Ale revealed that NASRDA was officially notified of the flight through the Space Research and Exploration Agency (SERA), a US-based partner organisation, ahead of Salis’s launch. The success of the mission, Ale said, signals that the space sector is opening up, making room for individuals and private entities who are ready to invest in frontier science and technology.
“His success demonstrates the expanding opportunities now available to Nigerians in the space sector,” Ale added.
While Chief Salis’s mission was independent of government funding, NASRDA emphasized that its collaborative mission with SERA—announced in June 2024—is still on course. That programme aims to democratize space access for Nigerians through a merit-based selection process and public engagement.
The upcoming mission, which will also be carried out in partnership with Blue Origin, will select qualified Nigerian citizens aged 18 and above for astronaut training and research participation. Importantly, the public will have input into the thematic areas of scientific research to be undertaken during the flight.
“The application portal for the NASRDA-SERA mission will open in the coming weeks, and the detailed application process will be made public,” Ale disclosed.
The agency lauded Chief Salis not just for his courage but also for his contribution to national development, noting that his investment and participation bring visibility to the potential of space tourism, research, and commercial science for Nigeria’s economy.
“His achievement marks a defining moment. Nigeria now has both private citizens and government-led efforts actively pushing the frontiers of space exploration,” Ale said.
Chief Owolabi Salis is a Nigerian-born legal practitioner, philanthropist, and technocrat with a deep interest in science, innovation, and global development. Known for his multifaceted engagements across sectors, Salis has now earned global recognition as a space traveler and a trailblazer for Africans in the space economy.
His journey was part of Blue Origin’s latest suborbital space mission—NS-33—offering a few minutes of weightlessness and an orbital view of Earth that many only dream of.
With global estimates valuing the commercial space industry at over $1.8 trillion by 2035, Salis’s mission is being viewed not only as symbolic but also as strategic, potentially attracting investors and stakeholders to Nigeria’s nascent space economy.