RENOWNED NIGERIAN POET AND ADVOCATE FOR CHILDREN’S LITERATURE, MABEL SEGUN PASSES AWAY AT 95
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The renowned Nigerian poet, writer, and advocate for children’s literature, Mabel Segun, has passed away at the age of 95.
In a statement, her family expressed their gratitude for her life, highlighting her dedication to excellence. They described her as a multifaceted media figure who made lasting contributions to literature, broadcasting, and sports. Funeral arrangements will be announced in due course, they noted.
“It is with gratitude to God for a life well-lived in the pursuit of excellence in Literature, Broadcasting, and Sports that we announce the passing of our beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Mabel Dorothy Okanima Segun (nee Aig-Imoukhuede), in the early hours of March 6, 2025,” the statement read.
Born on February 13, 1930, in Ondo City, Segun completed her secondary education at CMS Girls’ School in Lagos before earning a degree in English, Latin, and History from the University of Ibadan in 1953. She went on to teach these subjects in Nigerian schools and later became the head of the English and Social Studies department, as well as vice-principal at the National Technical Teachers’ College in Yaba.
Segun’s literary career spanned several genres, including children’s literature, adult fiction, and poetry. Her debut book, My Father’s Daughter, published in 1965, became a widely adopted literature text in schools worldwide. Her works have been translated into numerous languages, including German, Danish, Norwegian, and Greek.
A strong advocate for children’s literature, Segun founded the Children’s Literature Association of Nigeria in 1978 and established the Children’s Documentation and Research Centre in Ibadan in 1990. She was also a fellow of the International Youth Library in Munich, Germany.
Segun played an instrumental role in shaping Nigerian literature, co-founding the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) alongside Chinua Achebe in 1981. As a broadcaster, she won the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation’s Artiste of the Year award in 1977. Her contributions to literature earned her several prestigious awards, including the Nigerian National Order of Merit Award (NNOM) in 2009 and the LNG Nigeria Prize for Literature in 2007.
In addition to her literary and broadcasting achievements, Segun was an accomplished athlete. She became Nigeria’s first female table tennis champion, securing a gold medal in the doubles category in 1954. She remained active in competitive table tennis until the age of 58 and also won a bronze medal in badminton at the Nigerian Regional Championship.
Segun is survived by her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
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