Dr Doyin Abiola, a veteran journalist, former Managing Director of National Concord, and wife of the late Chief MKO Abiola, died at the age of 82. She died around 9:15 p.m. on Tuesday after a long illness, according to family members.
Dr. Abiola, a pioneer in Nigerian journalism, was the first woman to become editor, then managing director/editor-in-chief, of a national daily newspaper.
Born in 1943, Dr. Abiola obtained a degree in English and Drama from the University of Ibadan in 1969. She began her journalism career at the Daily Sketch, where she penned a widely read column titled Tiro, addressing issues of public concern, particularly gender equity.
In 1970, she left Nigeria to pursue a Master’s degree in Journalism in the United States. Upon her return, she joined the Daily Times as a Features Writer and rose to become Group Features Editor. She later earned a Ph.D. in Communications and Political Science from New York University in 1979.
Returning to Nigeria, she served on the Daily Times editorial board alongside respected journalists such as Stanley Macebuh, Dele Giwa, and Amma Ogan. In 1980, she became the pioneer editor of the newly launched National Concord, eventually rising to Managing Director in 1986.
She married Chief MKO Abiola in 1981 and remained a steadfast presence during his political trials, particularly after the annulment of the historic June 12, 1993, presidential election.
Dr. Abiola also contributed to the media industry in various capacities. She chaired the nomination panel for the Nigerian Media Merit Award (NMMA) and served on the advisory council of the Faculty of Social and Management Sciences at Ogun State University.
Her contributions earned her numerous accolades, including the Diamond Award for Media Excellence (DAME) Lifetime Achievement Award, making her the second woman to receive the honor after Mrs. Omobola Onajide. She was also a recipient of the prestigious Eisenhower Fellowship in 1986.
Dr. Doyin Abiola leaves behind a legacy of courage, professionalism, and excellence in journalism.
Paying tribute to the deceased, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu described her as a pioneer in Nigerian journalism and a fearless advocate of democracy.
In a statement issued from the State House, President Tinubu mourned the loss of a woman he described as an “Amazon and an icon in Nigerian journalism,” recalling her early days as a reporter with the Daily Sketch after graduating from the University of Ibadan in 1969.
Dr. Abiola made history as the first woman to edit a national newspaper and later as the first female Managing Director of a daily publication in Nigeria. She rose to prominence in 1980 as the pioneer editor of National Concord and would go on to oversee all Concord titles as managing director and editor-in-chief.
President Tinubu highlighted her pivotal role in shaping public discourse and setting new standards in journalism, particularly through the launch of Weekend Concord, which placed human-interest storytelling at the forefront of news reporting.
Beyond journalism, Tinubu acknowledged her vital contributions to Nigeria’s democratic struggle, especially during the annulled 1993 presidential election won by her husband, the late Bashorun MKO Abiola. Despite the military junta’s clampdown on the Concord titles, Dr. Abiola stood firm, lending her voice to the calls for the validation of the historic June 12 mandate.
“She was a soldier of democracy in her own right,” the President noted. “Her immense contributions to journalism and gender equity laid a foundation for generations of women. Her impact on our democracy was even more profound.”
Tinubu expressed his condolences to the Abiola and Aboaba families, Dr. Abiola’s daughter, Doyinsola, and the governments of Lagos and Ogun States.
