Veteran journalist, Doyin Abiola is dead
Dr. Doyin Abiola, a trailblazing Nigerian journalist and former Managing Director of National Concord, has died at the age of 82.
According to family sources, she died peacefully at 9:15 p.m. on Tuesday after a brief illness.
A pioneering figure in Nigerian media, Dr. Abiola, who was MKO’s wife, was also the first Nigerian woman to serve as both editor and later managing director/editor-in-chief of a national daily newspaper.
Her decades-long career not only broke barriers for women in journalism but also helped shape the editorial landscape of modern Nigerian print media.
Born in 1943, Abiola studied English and Drama at the University of Ibadan, graduating in 1969. She began her career at the Daily Sketch, where her column Tiro gained wide readership for its bold commentary on public affairs, especially issues affecting women.
In 1970, she travelled to the United States to further her education, earning a Master’s degree in Journalism.
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 earned a Ph.D. in Communications and Political Science from New York University in 1979.
Her career reached a significant milestone in 1980 when she was appointed the founding editor of National Concord, a newspaper established by business magnate and politician Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola. She would go on to become Managing Director of the media group in 1986.
In 1981, she married Chief MKO Abiola, widely regarded as the presumed winner of Nigeria’s annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election.
Throughout her husband’s political struggles and incarceration, Dr. Abiola stood as a symbol of strength and quiet resilience.
Beyond her newsroom leadership, Dr. Abiola contributed meaningfully to journalism education and media development in Nigeria.
She chaired the nomination panel for the Nigerian Media Merit Award (NMMA) and served on Ogun State University’s advisory council for the Faculty of Social and Management Sciences.
Her lifelong commitment to excellence in journalism earned her several prestigious honors, including the Eisenhower Fellowship in 1986 and the Diamond Award for Media Excellence (DAME) Lifetime Achievement Award, making her only the second woman to receive that distinction after Mrs. Omobola Onajide.
She leaves behind a legacy defined by courage, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to truth and public service.
Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced by the family in the coming days.
Veteran journalist, Doyin Abiola is dead
