Mabel Dorothy Okanima Segun, a celebrated Nigerian poet, writer, and advocate for children’s literature, has passed away at the age of 95. Her family announced her demise in a statement, expressing gratitude for a life dedicated to excellence.

“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.

Born on February 13, 1930, in Ondo City, Segun was a trailblazer in Nigerian literature. She completed her secondary education at CMS Girls’ School in Lagos and later earned a degree in English, Latin, and History from the University of Ibadan in 1953.

Segun’s literary career spanned multiple genres, including children’s literature, adult fiction, and poetry. Her debut book, “My Father’s Daughter,” published in 1965, became a widely used literature text in schools worldwide. Her works have been translated into several languages, including German, Danish, Norwegian, and Greek.

A champion of children’s literature, Segun 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 pivotal role in Nigerian literature, co-founding the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) alongside Chinua Achebe in 1981. As a broadcaster, she received the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation’s Artiste of the Year award in 1977.

Her contributions to literature were recognized with numerous honors, including the Nigerian National Order of Merit Award (NNOM) in 2009 and the LNG Nigeria Prize for Literature in 2007.

Beyond her literary and broadcasting achievements, Segun was an accomplished athlete. She was Nigeria’s first female table tennis champion, winning a gold medal in the doubles category in 1954.

Segun is survived by her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Funeral arrangements will be announced in due course.