Renowned Nigerian writer, Mabel Dorothy Okanima Segun, famously known as Mabel Segun, has passed away at the age of 95. Her family confirmed her death, stating that she peacefully passed away in the early hours of Thursday, March 6, 2025.
In their announcement, the family expressed gratitude for her life, saying, “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. She was 95 years old. Funeral arrangements will be published in due course.”
Mabel Segun was an accomplished poet, playwright, short story writer, and children’s author. She was also a teacher, broadcaster, and a sportsperson. Segun leaves behind her daughter Omowunmi Segun, granddaughter Rolari Segun, grandsons Damilola Segun and Ayomide Segun, granddaughter Fikemi Femi-Segun, as well as great-grandchildren.
Her literary contributions have left a lasting impact on Nigeria’s literary landscape. Her works, which often explored themes of culture, identity, and the Nigerian experience, earned her admiration across the globe. Notably, her first book, My Father’s Daughter (1965), has been widely used as a textbook in schools worldwide and has been translated into multiple languages, including German, Danish, Norwegian, and Greek. Her work was also featured in the anthology Daughters of Africa (1992).
Segun was a champion of children’s literature in Nigeria, founding the Children’s Literature Association of Nigeria in 1978 and establishing the Children’s Documentation and Research Centre in Ibadan in 1990.
In a personal reflection shared in 1998, Segun recounted how her first husband had burnt her unpublished novel to prevent her from becoming famous, an act that ultimately led to their divorce after a ruling by a British judge.
Her legacy in literature and her dedication to children’s storytelling will continue to inspire generations to come.