Renowned journalist and trailblazer, Dr. Doyin Abiola, wife of the late Concord publisher and acclaimed winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief MKO Abiola, has passed away.
Family sources confirmed that she died at exactly 9:15 p.m. on Tuesday following an illness.
Dr. Abiola, a former Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of National Concord, holds the historic distinction of being the first Nigerian woman to become editor of a national daily newspaper.
Throughout her life, she not only carved a space for herself in the male-dominated world of journalism but also stood resiliently by her husband during the turbulent aftermath of the annulled 1993 elections. Along with MKO Abiola’s other wives, she bore the weight of personal and professional challenges that followed the political crisis and its impact on the Concord media empire.
Born in Nigeria, Doyin Abiola studied English and Drama at the University of Ibadan, graduating in 1969. She began her journalism career at the Daily Sketch where she also wrote a column titled ‘Tiro’, which addressed pressing public issues, particularly gender concerns.
In 1970, she travelled to the United States for postgraduate studies, earning a Master’s degree in Journalism. Upon her return, she joined Daily Times as a Features Writer and later rose to the position of Group Features Editor.
She further pursued academic excellence by obtaining a PhD in Communications and Political Science from New York University in 1979.
Following her doctoral studies, she rejoined the Daily Times, serving on its editorial board alongside respected journalists such as Stanley Macebuh, Dele Giwa, and Amma Ogan.
Her career reached a defining milestone when she was invited to join the newly established National Concord newspaper as its pioneer daily editor. She was later appointed Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief in 1986, becoming the first woman in Nigeria to hold such a position in a daily newspaper.
Dr. Doyin Abiola married Chief MKO Abiola in 1981, and her career at National Concord spanned over three decades, during which she contributed immensely to the growth of Nigeria’s media landscape. She also served in various national roles and contributed to the development of journalism in the country.
Her death marks the end of an era for Nigerian media, leaving behind a legacy of professionalism, courage, and groundbreaking achievements.
