The management of Folio Media Group, publishers of Daily Times Newspapers, has expressed deep sadness over the death of its former staff and Editorial Board member, Dr. Doyin Abiola.
She passed away on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, at the age of 82.
Dr. Doyin Abiola was the wife of late Chief MKO Abiola, the winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election which was later annulled by the military government of General Ibrahim Babangida.
This was contained in a statement released on Wednesday and signed by Dr. Fidelis Anosike, Chairman and Publisher of Folio Media Group.
He described her death as shocking.
He said she passed at a time when the media industry and Nigeria needed her experience the most.
“It is with great shock and sadness that I have received the news of the passing of Dr. Doyin Abiola, a former Features Writer with Daily Times Newspapers who rose to the position of Group Features Editor and subsequently, a member of its Editorial Borad.
“As in the 70s, it was big news for a woman to hold such top position in the nation’s media industry and Doyin, in deed, distinguished herself and rose to the topmost of the Features Desk.
“That she later moved on to become the first woman editor of a daily newspaper of Nigeria, was a loud testimony of the stuff she was made of, as a committed professional.
“The late Mrs. Doyin Abiola was a dedicated journalist, writer, supporter of social justice, and a strong advocate for women’s rights.”
For the pioneer positions she held in Nigeria’s media industry and for distinguishing herself in subsequent leadership positions, Doyin was a pathfinder to women journalists in particular and an inspiration to the media industry in general,” Anosike said.
“We at Folio Media Group, and Daily Times in particular, join the rest of well-meaning Nigerians and the global media industry to mourn the demise of Dr. Doyin Abiola and pray that her family be comforted,” Anosike stated.
He urged the Abiola family to find comfort in knowing that the late Doyin lived a meaningful life, made great contributions to Nigeria and humanity, and passed away at the good age of 82.
Doyin Abiola studied at the University of Ibadan and graduated in 1969 with a degree in English and Drama.
After finishing school, she began her journalism career at Daily Sketch newspaper, where she wrote a column called Tiro that focused on public issues, including gender-related topics. She later joined Daily Times and then travelled to the United States to study further. In 1979, she earned a PhD in Communications and Political Science from New York University.
When she returned to Nigeria, she rejoined Daily Times and became a member of the newspaper’s editorial board, working with well-known editors like Stanley Macebuh, Dele Giwa, and Amma Ogan.She later joined National Concord newspaper, where she became its first daily editor.
In 1986, she was promoted to Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief, becoming the first Nigerian woman to hold such a position in a daily newspaper.
Dr. Abiola worked at National Concord for nearly 30 years. She also played important roles in Nigeria’s media industry.
She led the nomination panel for the first Nigerian Media Merit Award and was also a member of the Advisory Council for the Faculty of Social and Management Sciences at Ogun State University.
She received the prestigious Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (DAME) in recognition of her lifelong work to promote knowledge and support the media’s role in democracy.
The DAME trustees chose her for their Lifetime Achievement Award at the 24th DAME ceremony.
She was the second woman to receive this honour, after Mrs. Omobola Onajide. She was also awarded the Eisenhower Fellowship in 1986.
