The Mabel Segun Foundation is mourning the loss of its esteemed founder, the celebrated literary icon, Mabel Segun.
In a statement released on April 3rd, 2025, the Foundation announced that funeral arrangements will be disclosed by the family in due course, requesting privacy as they commemorate her extraordinary life.
To ensure that Mabel Segun’s profound impact continues to resonate, the Foundation has unveiled a series of initiatives dedicated to preserving and promoting her vision. These initiatives include the Mabel Segun Prize for Children’s Literature, Mabel Segun Schools Outreach Programme and the Cataloguing of Mabel Segun’s Papers.
According to the press release, the annual prize for children’s literature will be an award presented every February at the Mabel Segun Conference, recognising excellence in African children’s literature. The foundation believes that children’s literature fosters a love for reading and enriches the literary landscape for young readers.
Building on the award, the Mabel Segun Schools Outreach Programme aims to cultivate a passion for reading and creative expression among schoolchildren. Through literary workshops, book donations, and mentorship opportunities, it will nurture the next generation of writers and readers.
The third initiative, which is Cataloguing of Mabel Segun’s Papers, intends to safeguard the late author’s significant literary and intellectual contributions. The Foundation plans to undertake a meticulous preservation and organisation of Mabel Segun’s manuscripts, letters, and archival materials, making them accessible to future scholars and readers.
Through the press release by Bunmi Oyinsan, PhD, the Mabel Segun Foundation is calling on literary enthusiasts, educational institutions, cultural organidations, and well-wishers to support the projects in memory of Mabel Segun’s invaluable contributions to literature and education.
A prominent figure in African literature and education, Mabel Segun’s legacy as a writer, poet, educator, and champion of children’s literature will endure for generations.
The Mabel Segun Foundation can be reached via email at: mabelsegun95@gmail.com.
“As we celebrate the life of Mabel Segun,” stated Bunmi Oyinsan, PhD, on behalf of the Foundation, “we are committed to ensuring that her work continues to inspire generations to come.”
Born in 1930 in Ondo State, Mabel Segun died on the 6 of March 2025. She founded the Children’s Literature Association of Nigeria, She was 95 years.
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