Mabel Segun has played a pivotal role in shaping children's literature in Nigeria. As the founder of the Children’s Literature Association of Nigeria, she championed the inclusion of African voices in a genre long dominated by foreign influences.

Her first book, My Father’s Daughter, published in 1965, became a widely used literature text in schools worldwide. Her works have been translated into German, Danish, Norwegian, and Greek, further extending her influence beyond Nigeria.

In recognition of her contributions, she received the Nigerian National Order of Merit Award in 2009.