Mabel Segun, a trailblazer in African female table tennis, passed away on Thursday, March 6, at the age of 95. Her family announced her demise in a statement issued on the same day.
“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 (née Aig-Imoukhuede),” the statement read. Segun passed away in the early hours of March 6, 2025, and her funeral arrangements will be announced later. She is survived by her son, Gbenga Segun; her daughter, Omowunmi Segun; and many grandchildren.
Segun, formerly known as Miss Mabel Imokhuede, was among the first Nigerian female table tennis players to gain international recognition in the early 1950s. According to Nigerian table tennis historian Femi Olugbile, despite the initial exclusion of women from regional and national competitions in Africa, Segun’s first major exposure came in 1954 during the National Singles Championships, when the first female singles competition was introduced in Nigeria.
Olugbile described Segun as a pioneer of female table tennis in Nigeria.
In his book “Ten Ahead,” he wrote: “The first female player of note to emerge in Nigeria was named Mabel Imokhuede (later to become Mrs. Segun). She was a contemporary of the first set of players who came to national recognition in the early 1950s. The first competitions held at both regional and national levels did not feature any women. Segun’s first major exposure to the limelight was in 1954, when a female singles competition was formally introduced in the National Singles Championships. There were not many players, as it was not common in those days for young ladies to participate in such activities, even for recreation.”
He added: “In the final match of the competition, Segun met Mrs. Hunt, the wife of one of the notable male players on the scene, who was an expatriate. She lost the match, but in doing so, she went into the records as the first indigenous Nigerian woman to attain that level of visibility in the game. Her example over time drew other ladies into the game.”
Segun’s illustrious career was marked by her role as a university graduate and a respected literary icon, serving as a role model for many Nigerian sportswomen. Her athletic prowess earned her the University’s Table Tennis Half Colour, and she won numerous awards, including a gold medal in the doubles category in 1954. She continued to play table tennis competitively until the age of 58 in 1988.
Born on February 18, 1930, Segun was a true pioneer, breaking barriers throughout her distinguished career. She left behind a legacy of remarkable achievements and contributions to Nigerian society.
She was married to former ATTF President and ex-ITTF Deputy President, Engr. George Segun.
