Dr. Doyin Abiola, a renowned journalist and trailblazer in Nigeria’s media landscape, has passed away at the age of 82. She was the widow of Chief MKO Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election.
Her death was confirmed on Wednesday by Jamiu Abiola, one of MKO Abiola’s sons, in a phone conversation with PUNCH. “Yes, she passed away last night,” he stated.
Dr. Abiola holds the distinction of being the first Nigerian woman to serve as Editor-in-Chief of a national daily. Her journalism career spanned over three decades, during which she made significant contributions to the industry and advocated for public discourse, particularly on gender and social issues.
Born in 1943, she earned a degree in English and Drama from the University of Ibadan in 1969 and began her journalism journey at Daily Sketch. where she wrote a popular column titled Tiro.
In 1970, she proceeded to the United States for further studies and later obtained a PhD in Communications and Political Science from New York University in 1979.
Upon returning to Nigeria, she joined Daily Times as a Features Writer and rose to become Group Features Editor. She was later appointed to the newspaper’s editorial board, where she worked alongside media legends like Stanley Macebuh, Dele Giwa, and Amma Ogan.
She became the founding daily editor of National Concord and, in 1986, was named Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief.
In this role, she transformed the Concord newspaper into one of Nigeria’s most influential media houses. Under her leadership, the Concord Group expanded to publish up to 14 different titles.
Dr. Abiola was known for rejecting gender-based limitations in her career. She once declined a position as “Woman Editor” at Daily Times, insisting instead on earning roles based on her qualifications. This led to her eventual rise to a top editorial position through merit.
During the military era under General Sani Abacha, soldiers raided the Concord office and destroyed its printing presses, leading to an 18-month ban on the newspaper.
Despite the challenges, she remained committed to press freedom and journalistic integrity, as she later recounted in a 2001 interview.
Her influence extended beyond journalism into media development and policy. She chaired the inaugural Awards Nominating Panel for the Nigerian Media Merit Award and served on the Advisory Council for the Faculty of Social and Management Sciences at Ogun State University. She was also named an Eisenhower Fellow in 1986.
Over the years, she received multiple accolades, including the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Diamond Awards for Media Excellence, becoming only the second woman to be so honored. She also served as Chairperson of the CNN African Journalist of the Year Awards.
Dr. Abiola stood firmly by her husband, MKO Abiola, during the political crises that followed the annulment of the 1993 election.
The family is expected to announce funeral arrangements in due course.
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