Mabel Segun, writer who gave women wings to fly, dies at 95

The late Mabel Segun

Published By: Ayorinde Oluokun

By Nehru Odeh

Mrs. Mabel Segun, Nigeria writer who blazed trails in literature, broadcasting and sports is dead . She died in the early hours of Thursday 6 March, 2025 after a brief illness. She was aged 95.

The death of the multifaceted artiste who blazed the trail in children literature with the publication of her autobiographical classic, “My Father’s Daughter” came barely two weeks after she had been celebrated at her 95th birthday, on Wednesday 18 February 2026.

A statement released by her family reads: ” 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 a rare breed. She also led an extraordinary life. A woman of many parts, she was not just a Nigerian writer who was committed to her craft, she was also an accomplished broadcaster, a first class athlete and an erudite academic.

Still, the intriguing thing about this legend who late Chief Bola Ige famously described as the Matriarch of Children Literature is that not only did she blaze many trails, she set the pace in all her endeavours. She was an award- winning and a national table tennis champion

Segun was so competitive that she excelled in those fields, defeating men hands down, thus defying norms, destroying gender myths bridging gender gap and breaking gender barriers: the same way she had broken the glass ceiling.

However, she did not just open doors for women by virtue of her uncommon courage and boldness, rare sense of freedom and unhindered aspiration as well as string of excellence, she also inspired and gave them wings to fly.

Omowunmi Segun

Notable personalities who made their presence felt and paid glowing tributes to her at the seminar which held on 18 February at J.K Randle Centre Onikan, Lagos included Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka, Professor Niyi Osundare, Dr. Bunmi Oyinsan, Professor Akachi Ezeigbo, Mrs Mobolaji Adenubi, Dr Wale Okediran, Professor Olu Obafemi and Dr Kayode Aderinokun

The theme of the event was :The Multifaceted Artistry of Mrs Mabel Segun and was anchored by Dr Lookman Sanusi and Sola Alamutu. The seminar was moderated by Mr Jahman Anikulapo. Nigerian poet and journalist Akeem Lasisi thrilled the audience with a poetic rendition entitled “ This is not a Tribute to her Wondrous Life.

The celebrant’s daughter, Ms Omowunmi Segun, herself an award-winning writer, set the tone for the event with a brief speech introducing the photo exhibition which told the story of the extraordinary life her mother had led.

“We are telling her story to inspire the younger ones who are coming behind, that you can be a woman . This was somebody who defied all the norms of her time. She did all sorts of things. She became a champion and she also excelled in her academic life. So it does not mean if you study, you cannot do sport or you if you do sport, you cannot study. She proved that you can do both and do them very well,” Omowunmi said.

Prof Akachi EZEIGBO
In her welcome address, Dr Bunmi Oyinsan who spoke via a visual presentation described Segun as an extraordinary woman and a pioneer from the very beginning who for 95 glorious years has blazed trails in literature, sports, broadcasting and education and has shown that brilliance knows no gender.. “This is not just a birthday celebration. It is a tribute to a living legend whose impact has shaped generations,” Dr Oyinsan said.

“To put it simply. She did not just participate in sports, she dominated, whether in literature or athletics. She shattered expectations.”

Dr Oyinsan also stressed how the celebrant gave her wings to fly and inspired her to be a writer. “It was after reading “My Father’s Daughter” that I saw myself as a writer for the first time. This book was the first ever written by an African woman, a Nigerian for that matter, that I read. She gave me the and many others the permission to dream, to aspire to become writers.

“Her commitment to literature extended beyond her own writing. She played a prominent role in establishing the Association of Nigerian Authors, serving as a trustee and ensuring that Nigerian literature had a home and a strong support system. She helped shaped the careers of countless writers, creating the space where the next generation of storytellers would thrive.

“During their university days, many of the male students found it unsettling to have a female peer who could match and even surpass them in intellectual and physical prowess. She was different from what they expected a woman to do -, brilliant , bold and fiercely competitive in sports and table tennis. And she made no apologies for her excellence. She never shrunk herself to make others comfortable,” Dr Oyinsan maintained.

Dr Oyinsan then used the opportunity to announce the establishment of “The Mabel Segun Foundation”, an institution, which according to her, “is dedicated to promoting literature, education and culture, just as she has done throughout her life. “This foundation we hope will nurture younger writers, support literary initiative and uphold the values that Mrs Segun has spent her life pioneering.

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“She wss not just a writer. She was not just a sportswoman. She was not just a broadcaster. She was a force of nature, a national treasure, an icon whose legacies will live forever,” Dr Oyinsan enthused.

Omowunmi Segun, for her part, chose to rather deconstruct and at the same time debunk people’s erroneous perception of her mother whom she described as a powerful force that only manifests when roused deliberately or inadvertently, as she paid an emotive tribute to her.

“So let me start by asking the question: Who is Mabel Segun? Many of us know about her achievements, her pioneering broke in literature and sports. But how much do we really know about her as a person?

The photo exhibition
“Over the years I have heard her described in so many ways. Some say she was difficult, quarrelsome. I actually heard this at a function. Somebody got up to say she was quarrelsome, idealistic. And one person even wrote a letter to say she was cantankerous. And the interesting thing was that my mother didn’t get angry. In fact she was more bothered that the person could not spell cantankerous,” Omowunmi said, and the hall roared with laughter.

“Others refer to her as being kind, compassionate, helpful and generous, with her time, not money because that has always been in short supply,” Omowunmi noted.

Omowunmi, however, hinged the major influence on her mother on the celebrant ‘s father who was also a strong personality and rarely smiled. That according to her also explains the huge difference between she and her mother who was really her father’s daughter, both by virtue of birth and no-nonsense character, even though he died when she was only eight.

“My mother has never suffered fools gladly. And at 95, there is no place for fools in her life. My mother often comes across as intimidating, especially to the newcomer. And many people wonder why she and I are not much alike in that regard. The answer is simple; The influences in my mother’s life shaped her personality.

“Her father for one was a great influence in her life, even though he died when she was only eight. For those who know my mother well and have read “My Father’s Daughter”, they would find stunning similarities between my mother and her father.

“My mother described her father as very energetic. And looking stern until he smiled. But he rarely smiled because he was always busy. If I heard those words, I would think of my mother. So she described her father but she described herself as well,” Omowunmi noted.

Mr Frank-Aig Imoukhuuede
Dr Kayode Aderinokun, who said through the celebrant’s works we have a glimpse of her genius congratulated well wishers present and online for giving him the honour to somebody ( Mrs Mabel Segun) who deserves so much honour. He also spoke about her commitment to the Lagos State Chapter of the Association of Nigerian Authors when he was its Chairman. He referenced one of the events organized by the association in which Mrs Oluremi Tinubu, who was then the First Lady in Lagos State, was fascinated by her personality, her warmth, her beauty and her brilliance. “We all at one time or the other either spiritually or physically, have benefited from her erudition,,” Dr Aderinokun said.

Professor Niyi Osundare highlighted her immense contribution to Nigerian literature, adding that her conspicuous presence as the only female among men in the literary world gave her a kind of independent spirit that is very rare. “Good writer that she is, but she was also a moral writer. I learnt a lot from being vey close to Mrs Mabel Segun when she was at the University of Ibadan here. She was a kind of person and still the kind of person who knows when to say no. She was bold. She was tenacious. She was proud but not arrogant. And very considerate,” Prof. Osundare maintained.

Dr Wale Okediran, who has known the celebrant for more than 40 years, also emphasized her commitment and participation in the activities of the Oyo State Chapter of the Association of Nigerian Authors. Okediran also said it was through one of the workshops about children that took place in Kaduna many years ago in which she was one of the resource persons that he made his first foray into writing for children. “And so to me it has been a long, fruitful relationship with Mrs Mabel Segun,” Dr Okediran averred.

Professor Akachi Ezeigbo said Mrs Mabel Segun was a friend who she considered a very talented writer and a woman of many parts

Professor Olu Obafemi was represented at the occasion. But he also had some kind words to say about the celebrant whom he addressed her directly in a speech he titled “Garlands for our Literary Matriarch, Mrs Mabel Segun”. “You have been a pacesetter, a model and an inspirer as a pioneer Nigerian and African female published poet.

Mrs Mobolaji Adenubi

“You have been there for us since the beginning and you are still there for us today, nurturing Nigerian literature and the Association of Nigerian Authors where you are a founding member and you served for many years as a member of the Board of Trustees…You have always been a national patriot and a contributor to the growth of literature especially that of children,” Prof. Obafemi acknowledged.

Cutting of the birthday cake
Professor Wole Soyinka noted Mabel Segun’s pioneering roles and the way she set the pace for others to follow, shattering barriers and breaking boundaries. Using the game of soccer as an analogy, he compared her to a player who is always ahead of his team mates. “While some are busy looking for a ladder to climb over the wall and retrieve the ball… one of you had already climbed over the wall, retrieved the ball, tossed it back to your yard and followed the game by the same route. That person would be Aunty Mabel,” Soyinka said.

Professor Soyinka also described her as an exemplar of feminism, who represented the sense of equality between the genders in every way. “Actually soccer was not her favourite game, It was ping pong. And she was a champion. She whipped even the male champions of course by her independent spirit and very unique way of integrating herself into any kind of situation,” Soyinka said.

In sync with the saying, “the best is saved for last”, Professor Soyinka’s speech signaled the winding down of a memorable seminar as the launch of the Mabel Segun Foundation and the presentation of its mission followed. Shortly after, Omowunmi gave the vote of thanks. Still everyone present were unanimous that Mrs Mabel Segun’s life is the stuff of legend.

And they went home with indubitable conviction that indeed she is not just a trail blazer, but she also gave- and still gives – women wings to fly,