The renowned Nigerian author, poet, and children’s literature advocate, Mabel Segun, died Thursday at the age of 95.
In a statement, her family thanked God for a life well lived and described her as a multifaceted media figure who strived for greatness in her line of work.
According to the statement, the public will shortly be informed of Mabel’s burial preparations.
The children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren of Mabel survive her.
“It is with gratitude to God for a life well spent 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 the 6th of March 2025,” the statement reads.
“She was 95 years old. Funeral arrangements will be published in due course.
“She was predeceased by: Femi Segun (son). She is survived by: Gbenga Segun (son) Omowunmi, Segun (daughter), Rolari Segun (granddaughter), Damilola Segun (grandson), Ayomide Segun (grandson), Fikemi Femi-Segun (granddaughter), and great grandchildren.”
Mabel was born on February 13, 1930, in Ondo City, and she finished her secondary schooling at CMS Girls’ School in Lagos. After that, she studied at the University of Ibadan, where she graduated in 1953 with a degree in history, Latin, and English.
After teaching these topics in Nigerian schools, she went on to become the vice-principal and head of the English and Social Studies departments at the National Technical Teachers’ College in Yaba.
Segun wrote in a variety of genres, such as poetry, adult fiction, and children’s books. Published in 1965, her debut novel, “My Father’s Daughter,” quickly became a standard literary text in classrooms around the world. German, Danish, Norwegian, and Greek are among the languages into which her books have been translated.
She founded the Children’s Literature Association of Nigeria in 1978 and later established the Children’s Documentation and Research Centre in Ibadan in 1990.
She was a fellow of the International Youth Library in Munich, Germany.
Mabel was also a founding member of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), which Chinua Achebe established in 1981.
As a broadcaster, Mabel won the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation 1977 Artiste of the Year award.
She was also given the Nigerian National Order of Merit Award (NNOM) for lifetime achievements in 2009.
