U.S. artist set to immortalize Nigerian astronaut Owolabi Salis

U.S.-based Nigerian lawyer and astronaut, Chief Owolabi Salis, has become a celebrated national hero following his historic achievement as the first Nigerian to travel to outer space—beyond the Kármán Line.

Even before this extraordinary feat, Chief Salis had long enjoyed prominence, particularly in New York City where he operates the successful and reputable Salis Law Firm. He has been widely recognized and respected, especially within African-American communities and among Nigerians in the diaspora. However, his recent space journey has elevated his profile even further, earning him widespread admiration across the United States.

Wherever Chief Salis appears in public—restaurants, hotels, or events—he draws instant attention. Admirers often shower him with applause, hugs, and requests for photographs, treating him like a living legend.

Plans are now underway to honor Chief Owolabi Salis in a monumental way.

Renowned American artist and the world’s only space monument designer, Steve N. Barber, has proposed a project to immortalize the astronaut.

Barber, who has created 37 world-class monuments for astronauts and a notable piece for former U.S. President Donald Trump, approached Chief Salis with the idea for this tribute.

Salis, originally from Ikorodu, Lagos, has expressed appreciation for the proposed honor.

The monument, which promises a distinctive blend of class and excellence befitting Salis’s trailblazing achievement, is expected to stand for at least 1,000 years.

Steve Barber emphasized that the project not only celebrates Salis’s personal accomplishments but also symbolically elevates Nigeria’s global standing.

He expressed hope that the Nigerian government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as well as global figures like Jeff Bezos and leading corporate organizations, will support the initiative as a gesture of national pride and gratitude.

According to Barber, the monument will serve as both a timeless tribute and a beacon of inspiration for generations to come—particularly for Nigerians, Black communities, and aspiring explorers around the world. He believes the memorial will ignite greater interest in space exploration and highlight the endless possibilities available through science and discovery.

The monument is scheduled for completion on July 4, 2026—America’s Independence Day. It will feature inspirational inscriptions and will be unveiled amid major media coverage and global attention. Following the unveiling, the structure will be transported to Salis’s birthplace in Ikorodu, Lagos, Nigeria.

Chief Salis’s space journey recently placed him among an elite group of roughly 720 people—living or deceased—who have traveled into space since the beginning of human history.

“This indeed is no small feat,” Salis remarked. “Our planet is approximately five billion years old, and about 117 billion people have lived on it. Out of that number, only 720 have ever been to space.”

Earlier this year, between January and July 2024, Salis also became the first Black African to visit both the Arctic and Antarctic—completing this exceptional achievement within a single season. A seasoned world traveler, he has visited over 120 countries across every continent.