Mabel Segun, a celebrated Nigerian poet, writer, and champion of children’s literature, has passed away at the age of 95.
In a statement, her family expressed gratitude for her impactful life, describing her as a versatile media personality who contributed immensely to literature, broadcasting, and sports. Funeral arrangements will be announced in due course.
Born in Ondo City on February 13, 1930, Segun studied English, Latin, and History at the University of Ibadan, graduating in 1953. She later taught these subjects and served as vice-principal at the National Technical Teachers’ College in Yaba.
Her literary career spanned poetry, fiction, and children’s literature. Her debut book, My Father’s Daughter (1965), became a staple in schools and was translated into multiple languages. In 1978, she founded the Children’s Literature Association of Nigeria and later established the Children’s Documentation and Research Centre in Ibadan. She co-founded the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) with Chinua Achebe in 1981.
Segun’s influence extended to broadcasting, winning the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation’s Artiste of the Year award in 1977. She received numerous accolades, including the Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM) in 2009 and the LNG Nigeria Prize for Literature in 2007.
Beyond literature, she was Nigeria’s first female table tennis champion, winning gold in 1954 and competing in badminton until her late fifties.
She is survived by her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
