Nigeria has lost one of its most iconic media figures, Dr. Doyin Abiola, who died on Tuesday night at the age of 81.
Sources close to the family confirmed that she passed away at exactly 9:15 p.m. after a period of illness.
Dr. Abiola, the widow of the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola, presumed winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election was a trailblazer in Nigerian journalism and media leadership. She made history as the first Nigerian woman to become editor-in-chief and managing director of a daily newspaper in the country.
Born in 1944, Doyin Abiola studied English and Drama at the University of Ibadan and graduated in 1969. Her journalism career began at the Daily Sketch, where she launched a widely read column, Tiro, focusing on social and gender issues.
In 1970, she left for the United States to pursue a Master’s degree in Journalism. On her return to Nigeria, she joined the Daily Times as a Features Writer and rose to the position of Group Features Editor. Determined to deepen her academic and professional capacity, she returned to the U.S. and obtained a PhD in Communications and Political Science from New York University in 1979.
Her return to Nigeria saw her join the editorial board of Daily Times, working alongside notable names like Dele Giwa, Stanley Macebuh, and Amma Ogan. But soon after, she was invited to become the pioneer editor of the newly established National Concord, founded by her future husband, Chief MKO Abiola.
By 1986, she had climbed to the position of Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of National Concord, marking another historic milestone as the first woman in Nigeria to hold such a role in the daily newspaper industry.
Her influence in the media sector spanned over three decades, during which she mentored generations of journalists and contributed significantly to the evolution of the Nigerian press.
Married to MKO Abiola in 1981, she stood firmly by him through the turbulent years that followed the annulment of the 1993 election. Despite the political storm that engulfed their family and the Concord group, Doyin Abiola remained a pillar of strength both at home and within the newsroom.
Dr. Doyin Abiola also served in various national and industry roles, offering her expertise and voice to the advancement of journalism and women’s representation in Nigeria.
Nation