Early Life and Family Background Olusegun “Segun” Awolowo Jr. was born on 27 September 1963.

Early Life and Family Background

Olusegun “Segun” Awolowo Jr. was born on 27 September 1963.

He was born just two months after his father, Segun Awolowo Sr., died in a car crash.

After his father’s death, his aunt, Mrs. Tola Oyediran (née Awolowo), and her husband, Prof. Kayode Oyediran, raised him for part of his early childhood.

His mother was Hajia Zainab “Sisi Abah” Abah Folawiyo, a prominent socialite.

He was a grandson of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, one of Nigeria’s foremost nationalist leaders.

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Education

For early education, Segun attended Mayhill Convent School.

He then went to Igbobi College, Yaba, Lagos, before finishing his secondary education at Government College, Ibadan.

For higher education, he earned his LLB (Law) degree from Ogun State University (now Olabisi Onabanjo University) in Ago Iwoye.

He was called to the Nigerian Bar in December 1989, and worked initially with the law firms of Abayomi Sogbesan & Co and GOK Ajayi & Co.

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Career

Early in his career, Segun worked in public service. Under President Olusegun Obasanjo, he served as a Special Assistant on Traditional Institutions and legal due diligence.

Under President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, he worked in the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), serving as Secretary for Social Development and Secretary of Transport.

In November 2013, he was appointed Executive Director (CEO) of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) by President Goodluck Jonathan.

His tenure at NEPC continued under President Muhammadu Buhari, indicating reappointment.

During his leadership at NEPC, he played a major role in pushing the “Zero Oil Plan”, an economic strategy to shift Nigeria’s export focus from raw oil to non-oil, value-added goods.

In July 2021, he was unanimously elected President of the National Trade Promotion Organisations (TPOs) for ECOWAS member states.

He also served as Secretary of the National Action Committee on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

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Personal Life

He was married, and his children included at least one daughter named Seun.

His daughter Seun is active socially: she runs an NGO called Teach-A-Girl Nigeria (focused on girl-child education) and founded Leads Africa and 3D Living Moments.

He was known for being a committed family man; on his 60th birthday, he expressed gratitude for friendships, family, and life, announcing that he would soon publish his memoirs.

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Legacy and Character

Segun Awolowo was widely seen as a devoted public servant. His family described him as “stead[y], wise, endlessly loving, and the constant anchor” of their family.

He combined his legal background with economic vision, especially through NEPC, to promote Nigeria’s export potential and trade capacity.

He carried on part of his grandfather’s legacy—not in direct party politics, but in national development and economic service.

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Death

On 20 November 2025, Olusegun “Segun” Awolowo Jr. passed away at the age of 62.

His death was publicly confirmed by the Awolowo family.

Media tributes highlighted both his public achievements and his personal virtues: loyalty, humility, service.

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Significance

As a scion of the Awolowo dynasty, Segun represented continuity: educational achievement, legal profession, and commitment to national progress.

His work in export promotion aligned with global economic trends (especially African trade liberalization via AfCFTA), positioning him as a forward-thinking technocrat.

His passing marks the loss of a respected figure who bridged political heritage and modern economic policy.