Veteran Nigerian novelist, Mabel Segun, passes away at 95

Mabel Segun, the esteemed Nigerian poet, author, and advocate for children’s literature, has passed away at the age of 95. She died in the early hours of Thursday, March 6, 2025.

Her family, in a statement, expressed gratitude for her impactful life, describing her as a versatile media personality dedicated to excellence in literature, broadcasting, and sports. They also announced that details of her funeral arrangements would be shared with the public in due course.

“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 (née Aig-Imoukhuede),” the family stated.

Segun is survived by her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, while she was predeceased by her son, Femi Segun.

Born on February 13, 1930, in Ondo City, Mabel Segun had an illustrious career that spanned literature, education, broadcasting, and sports. She attended CMS Girls’ School in Lagos before proceeding to the University of Ibadan, where she earned a degree in English, Latin, and History in 1953.

Her professional journey began in education, where she taught English and Social Studies in various Nigerian schools. She later became the head of the English and Social Studies department and served as vice-principal at the National Technical Teachers’ College in Yaba.

Segun’s literary contributions were extensive, covering poetry, adult fiction, and children’s literature. Her debut book, My Father’s Daughter, published in 1965, became a staple in school curriculums worldwide. Her works have been translated into multiple languages, including German, Danish, Norwegian, and Greek.

As a pioneer in children’s literature, 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 also a fellow of the International Youth Library in Munich, Germany.

Segun played a crucial role in Nigeria’s literary community as a founding member of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), which Chinua Achebe established in 1981.

Her work in broadcasting was equally noteworthy. She was honored with the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation’s Artiste of the Year award in 1977. In recognition of her lifelong contributions to literature, she received the Nigerian National Order of Merit Award (NNOM) in 2009.

In 2007, she was awarded the LNG Nigeria Prize for Literature and was featured in the anthology Daughters of Africa. The Society of Young Nigerian Writers established the Mabel Segun Literary Society in 2015 to promote and celebrate her works.

Beyond literature, Segun was a gifted athlete who made significant strides in table tennis and badminton. She was Nigeria’s first female table tennis champion, earning the University of Ibadan’s Table Tennis Half Colour and securing a gold medal in the doubles category in 1954. She continued competing until the age of 58 and also won a bronze medal in badminton at the Nigerian Regional Championship.

 

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