Olusegun “Segun” Awolowo, grandson of Nigeria’s revered statesman Chief Obafemi Awolowo, has passed away at the age of 62, his family confirmed.
In a deeply emotional statement, his loved ones described him as “steady, wise, endlessly loving” — a phenomenal husband, father, and grandfather who served as the anchor of his family. They praised his dedication to Nigeria, calling him “a painfully loyal servant” who carried out his public duties with integrity, vision, passion, and unwavering commitment.
Segun’s career spanned both law and public service. After being called to the bar in December 1989, he worked in private law firms before entering government service as a Special Assistant under Presidents Obasanjo and Yar’Adua. He later led the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) as Executive Director from 2013 until 2021. In July 2021, he was unanimously elected President of the ECOWAS Trade Promotion Organisations.
President Bola Tinubu has expressed his condolences, calling Segun’s passing “unfortunate and a tragic loss not only to the Awolowo family, but also to the entire country.” Governor Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State also mourned him, remembering him as a “great public servant and a jolly-good fellow whose company everyone cherished.”
The family noted that the cause of his death was not disclosed. They concluded their message with gratitude for his life, his legacy, and the boundless love he gave, praying that his “gentle soul rest in perfect peace.”
