Meet Owolabi Salis, First Nigerian Man To Travel to Space
- A 62-year-old Nigerian man, Owolabi Salis, has become the first Nigerian-born person to travel to space
- His journey, which was privately funded, has been celebrated by the National Space Research and Development Agency
- The agency also revealed that there is a growing interest among Nigerian citizens to explore space
Legit.ng journalist Dave Ibemere has more than a decade of experience in business journalism, with in-depth knowledge of the Nigerian economy, stocks, and general market trends.
The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) has celebrated Owolabi Salis as the first Nigerian-born person to journey into space.
In June 2025, Salis was one of six passengers on Blue Origin’s NS-33 mission, a suborbital flight that crossed the Kármán line which is the recognised boundary of space.
Source: Getty Images
NASRDA celebrates Nigeria's first space explorer
In a statement released by Felix Ale, NASRDA's Director of Media and Corporate Communications, Salis was praised for his historic achievement.
Ale, in a statement, stated that Salis' spaceflight was privately financed.
He noted:
"This accomplishment not only showcases Nigerian interest in global scientific, exploratory, tourism, and commercial space ventures but also signals a burgeoning era of private sector involvement in Nigeria's space program.
"This achievement opens up new horizons for Nigerian participation in space activities and enhances Nigeria's profile on the international stage."
According to NASRDA, Chief Salis’s successful space journey represents one of the multiple pathways for Nigerian participation in space and complements the agency’s ongoing work to broaden access to space exploration for citizens, as reported by Punch.
Ale disclosed that the agency was notified about the flight through its partner organisation, the Space Research and Exploration Agency, ahead of the mission.
He added:
"While Chief Salis's mission was privately funded, NASRDA's collaborative effort with SERA for an upcoming Blue Origin flight remains on schedule.
“His success demonstrates the expanding opportunities now available to Nigerians in the space sector,”
NASRDA said opportunities to go to space will involve a merit-based selection of Nigerian citizens aged 18 and above to participate in astronaut training and research development.
It will also allow public input on the research areas to be prioritised.
Ale concluded:
"His achievement is a defining moment for Nigeria, reflecting the combined efforts of private citizens and government-led initiatives in pushing the boundaries of space exploration."
Source: Facebook
Who is Owolabi Salis?
Owolabi Salis is a Nigerian-born lawyer, accountant and politician from Ikorodu Lagos.
He was born on March 1st, 1963 and graduated from Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, Nigeria.
He is a chartered accountant and licensed attorney in both Nigeria and the US Nigeria, BusinessDay reports.
Salis has also been a long-time participant in Lagos politics, contesting gubernatorial elections.
Billionaire businessman leaves earth, travels to space
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that UK billionaire and the owner of Virgin Atlantic, Richard Branson, has finally landed in space with four other crew members.
It has always been Branson's dream to get to space, and that was fulfilled hours ago when he shared his first video from there.
Many people were amazed by the space video, as some said it goes to show just how gr,eat the human drive is.
Source: Legit.ng
