Owolabi Salis Becomes First Nigerian to Travel to Space.
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Owolabi Salis Becomes First Nigerian to Travel to Space.
U.S.-based lawyer and political figure Owolabi Salis has made history as the first Nigerian to journey into space.
Salis was one of six civilians aboard Blue Origin’s NS-33 suborbital flight, which launched on June 29, 2025, from West Texas. The other participants included Allie Kuehner, Carl Kuehner, Leland Larson, Freddie Rescigno Jr., and Jim Sitkin.
According to Space in Africa, the spacecraft crossed the Kármán line the internationally recognized boundary of space reaching an altitude of 105.2 kilometers. The 10-minute round-trip flight was part of Blue Origin’s New Shepard program, which aims to make space travel accessible to non-professional astronauts.
Ahead of the flight, Salis described the experience as more than a personal milestone, calling it a “spiritual journey” intended to inspire African youth to pursue careers in science, technology, and space exploration.
Born in Ikorodu, Lagos State, Salis is both a chartered accountant and a licensed attorney in Nigeria and the United States. He is also the author of *Equitocracy*, a book promoting a political system based on fairness and inclusion.
Salis is no stranger to unique accomplishments. He previously became the first Black African to visit both the Arctic and Antarctic in the same calendar season—a feat rarely achieved.
In politics, Salis has been an active figure in Lagos State. He sought the PDP’s gubernatorial nomination in 2003 and 2007, ran under the Action Party of Nigeria in 2007, and later represented the Alliance for Democracy in the 2019 elections. After the 2019 race, he contested the results in court, challenging Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s win, though his case was dismissed.
Salis’s spaceflight marks a significant milestone for Nigeria and reflects the growing global participation in space exploration.
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Faith Kegh
Content & Editorial Manager - Leads the creation, review, and publication of high-quality news and media content. She ensures that all editorial work reflects the organization’s standards of accuracy, professionalism, and relevance, while also engaging and informing the audience.
As the key driver of TokinPoint Media LTD's editorial voice, the manager oversees content planning, assigns tasks to writers or editors, enforces deadlines, and ensures consistency across all platforms. She also plays a strategic role in aligning content with audience interests and search engine optimization (SEO) best practices.