In a historic milestone for Nigeria’s space exploration journey, Chief Owolabi Salis, a United States–based Nigerian lawyer, finance expert, and philanthropist, has been officially recognised by Wikipedia as the first Nigerian to travel to space. This follows confirmation from the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) — the world’s governing body for air and space records — that Salis met all criteria for human spaceflight.
Salis, who undertook the mission on June 29, 2025, was part of the Blue Origin New Shepard NS-33 crew — a spacecraft developed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. The flight launched from the West Texas desert and soared past the Kármán Line — the internationally recognised boundary of space at 100 kilometres above sea level — reaching an altitude of 105 km.
The achievement places Salis among an elite group of just about 720 people in human history to have ventured beyond Earth’s atmosphere. “Considering our planet is roughly five billion years old and 117 billion people have lived on it, the fact that I’m one of fewer than 1,000 humans to experience space is deeply humbling,” Salis said.
Salis shared the spacecraft with fellow passengers Allie Kuehner, Carl Kuehner, Leland Larson, Freddie Rescigno, and Jim Sitkin. The suborbital mission lasted about 10 minutes, offering the crew a few minutes of weightlessness and breathtaking views of Earth’s curvature.
Born in Nigeria, Salis built a career in law, finance, and social impact before taking this giant leap. He is also the founder of Soul Makers Ministry Worldwide, an organisation dedicated to humanitarian work and spiritual empowerment. He described the flight as “spiritually rewarding” and an opportunity to inspire Africans to dream beyond traditional limits.
Renowned California-based sculptor Steve N. Barber has announced plans to honour Salis with a 1,000-year monument featuring engraved motivational inscriptions. The monument is scheduled for completion on July 4, 2026, aligning with U.S. Independence Day celebrations, before being relocated to Salis’ birthplace in Nigeria. Barber described the project as “a beacon for young Africans aspiring to break global frontiers.”
Nigeria’s name has now joined the list of nations whose citizens have crossed into space, marking a symbolic step for the country’s long-term aspirations in science, technology, and aerospace innovation. While Nigeria’s own National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) has yet to send a government-trained astronaut to space, Salis’ achievement places the nation in the spotlight of private space exploration.
Wikipedia’s record shows that Yuri Gagarin of the Soviet Union was the first human in space on April 12, 1961, followed by Alan Shepard of the United States on May 5, 1961. Salis now becomes part of this storied list, holding the title of “First Nigerian Astronaut” in global archives.
Salis believes his journey proves that African talent can shine on any global stage. “This recognition will encourage others to take bold steps — whether in science, technology, or entrepreneurship,” he said. “It’s about showing that Nigerians can lead in frontiers as challenging as space exploration.”