Famous female writer, Mabel Segun dies at 95
Renowned Nigerian writer, Mabel Dorothy Okanima Segun, has passed away at the age of 95, just a few days after celebrating her birthday. Her passing is particularly poignant, as she departed on World Book Day—a fitting farewell for a woman who dedicated her life to literature.
An accomplished poet, playwright, and children’s author, Segun was also a teacher, broadcaster, and sports enthusiast. Her family, in a statement, expressed gratitude for her life of excellence in literature, broadcasting, and sports:
“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) in the early hours of the 6th of March 2025. She was 95 years old. Funeral arrangements will be published in due course.”
She is survived by her daughter, Omowunmi Segun; grandchildren, Rolari Segun, Damilola Segun, Ayomide Segun, and Fikemi Femi-Segun; as well as great-grandchildren.
Segun was the elder sister of Frank Aibogun Aig-Imoukhuede, who recently celebrated his 90th birthday. He is the father of the current CEO of Access Bank – longevity and excellence seems to run in their DNA.
Mabel Segun’s contributions to Nigerian literature were profound. Her works, rich in cultural identity and Nigerian experiences, inspired generations. Her first book, My Father’s Daughter, published in 1965, remains a timeless classic and has been widely used in schools across the world. It has been translated into German, Danish, Norwegian, and Greek.
Beyond her writings, she played a vital role in promoting 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. She was also a fellow of the International Youth Library in Munich, Germany, and a founding member of the Association of Nigerian Authors, which Chinua Achebe established in 1981.
Segun’s passing feels almost surreal, happening on World Book Day, as if marking the final chapter of an extraordinary literary journey. Her legacy will continue to shape Nigerian literature for generations to come.
