Veteran journalist and former Managing Director of National Concord newspapers, Dr. Doyin Abiola, has passed away at the age of 82. Sources close to the family confirmed that she died at exactly 9:15 p.m. on Tuesday after a period of illness.
Dr. Abiola, the wife of late business mogul and winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief MKO Abiola, was a trailblazer in Nigerian journalism. She made history as the first Nigerian woman to become editor-in-chief of a national daily newspaper.
Born in the 1940s, Doyin Abiola began her journalism career at the Daily Sketch shortly after earning her degree in English and Drama from the University of Ibadan in 1969. At Sketch, she gained public attention through her popular column, Tiro, which tackled wide-ranging societal issues, especially those affecting women.
In 1970, she travelled to the United States to pursue a master’s degree in Journalism and later obtained a Ph.D. in Communications and Political Science from New York University in 1979. Upon returning to Nigeria, she joined the Daily Times as a Features Writer and rose through the ranks to become Group Features Editor. She later served on the paper’s editorial board, working alongside journalism greats like Stanley Macebuh, Dele Giwa, and Amma Ogan.
Dr. Abiola’s move to National Concord marked a new era in her career. She was invited to be the pioneer editor of the daily newspaper and, in 1986, was appointed Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief—becoming the first Nigerian woman to hold that position in the history of Nigerian journalism. Her leadership at Concord spanned three decades and weathered the political storms that followed the annulment of her husband’s election.
Beyond the newsroom, Dr. Abiola contributed to the growth of the Nigerian media industry through various national assignments. She chaired the Awards Nominating Panel at the maiden edition of the Nigerian Media Merit Award (NMMA) and served as a member of the Advisory Council, Faculty of Social and Management Sciences at Ogun State University.
In recognition of her lifelong commitment to journalism, she received the prestigious Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (DAME) Lifetime Achievement Award, becoming the second woman to be so honoured after Mrs. Omobola Onajide. She was also a recipient of the prestigious Eisenhower Fellowship in 1986.
Dr. Doyin Abiola leaves behind an enduring legacy of courage, excellence, and service in the media landscape.
