Her family announced her passing in a statement, expressing gratitude for her impactful life and contributions to literature, broadcasting, and sports.
Segun’s illustrious career spanned over five decades, with notable achievements in education, literature, and sports. She was a pioneering figure in children’s literature, founding the Children’s Literature Association of Nigeria in 1978 and establishing the Children’s Documentation and Research Centre in Ibadan in 1990.
Her literary works, including her debut book “My Father’s Daughter” (1965), have been widely acclaimed and translated into multiple languages.
Segun was also a fellow of the International Youth Library in Munich, Germany, and a founding member of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA).
Throughout her career, Segun received numerous awards and honors, including the Nigerian National Order of Merit Award (NNOM) in 2009 and the LNG Nigeria Prize for Literature in 2007.
The literary community has mourned Segun’s passing, remembering her as a dedicated advocate for children’s literature and a trailblazer in Nigerian literature.
Her family has announced that funeral arrangements will be shared with the public in due course.