Mabel Segun facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mabel Segun
NNOM
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Segun (left) in Strasbourg, 1983
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| Born | 13 February 1930 Ondo City, Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria
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| Died | 6 March 2025 (aged 95) |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Education | University of Ibadan |
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Notable work
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My Father's Daughter (1965) |
| Awards | Nigeria Prize for Literature |
Mabel Segun (born 13 February 1930 – died 6 March 2025) was a famous Nigerian writer. She wrote poems, plays, and stories, especially for children. She was also a teacher, a broadcaster, and even a sportswoman! She received the NNOM, which is a very high honour in Nigeria.
Contents
About Mabel Segun
Mabel Segun was born in Ondo City, Nigeria. She went to school at CMS Girls' School Lagos. Later, she studied at the University of Ibadan, where she earned a degree in English, Latin, and History in 1953.
Her Career and Teaching
After finishing college, Mabel Segun taught these subjects in schools across Nigeria. She later became a leader in the English and Social Studies department at a college in Yaba. She was also the Vice-Principal there.
Writing for Young People
Mabel Segun's first book, My Father's Daughter, came out in 1965. This book was used in schools around the world. Her stories have been translated into many languages, like German, Danish, and Greek. Her writing also appeared in a special collection called Daughters of Africa.
She cared a lot about books for children in Nigeria. In 1978, she started the Children's Literature Association of Nigeria. This group helps promote reading and writing for kids. In 1990, she also set up the Children's Documentation and Research Centre in Ibadan. This center helps collect and share information about children's books. She was also part of the International Youth Library in Germany.
Mabel Segun was one of the first members of the Association of Nigerian Authors. This group was started by another famous Nigerian writer, Chinua Achebe, in 1981. Mabel Segun passed away on 6 March 2025, at the age of 95.
Awards and Honours
Mabel Segun received many awards for her amazing work.
Broadcasting Award
As a broadcaster, she won the 1977 Artiste of the Year award from the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation. This showed how good she was at communicating with people.
National Recognition
In 2009, she received the Nigerian National Order of Merit Award (NNOM). This is one of the highest awards in Nigeria. It is given to people who have made huge contributions to their country over their lifetime.
Literary Prize
In 2007, Mabel Segun was given the LNG Nigeria Prize for Literature. This is a very important award for writers in Nigeria.
Honouring Her Legacy
In 2015, a group called the Society of Young Nigerian Writers created the Mabel Segun Literary Society. This society helps people read and learn about Mabel Segun's books and her important work.
