By: Adedeji Adenike
Renowned journalist and trailblazer, Dr. Doyin Abiola, a former Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of National Concord and one of Nigeria’s most influential media figures, has died at the age of 82.
She was married to the late Chief MKO Abiola, acclaimed winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election.
Her passing was confirmed on Wednesday by Jamiu Abiola, one of MKO Abiola’s sons, in a conversation with our correspondent.
“Yes, she passed away last night,” he stated during a telephone conversation.
Dr. Abiola, widely recognised as the first Nigerian woman to become editor-in-chief of a national daily newspaper, spent more than 30 years in journalism, breaking glass ceilings and shaping public dialogue.
Born in 1943, she obtained a degree in English and Drama from the University of Ibadan in 1969 and began her career at Daily Sketch, where she wrote a highly regarded column, “Tiro,” which focused on gender and public affairs.
In 1970, she proceeded to the United States for postgraduate studies and earned a PhD in Communications and Political Science from New York University in 1979.
On her return to Nigeria, she joined Daily Times as a Features Writer and rose through the ranks to become Group Features Editor.
She was eventually appointed to the paper’s editorial board, working with prominent journalists like Stanley Macebuh, Dele Giwa, and Amma Ogan.
Doyin later became the pioneer daily editor of National Concord, and in 1986, she was appointed Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief, a position that placed her among the most powerful women in Nigerian media at the time.
Under her leadership, National Concord emerged as one of Nigeria’s most impactful media outlets, and the Concord Group expanded to publish up to 14 newspapers and magazines.
Dr. Abiola once turned down a role as “Woman Editor” at Daily Times, feeling it underestimated her competence. Instead, she demanded to be evaluated based on merit, eventually joining the newsroom as a Features Writer and later becoming Group Features Editor.
During General Sani Abacha’s military regime, security forces stormed the Concord premises, destroying printing equipment. The paper was proscribed for 18 months.
In a 2001 interview, she recalled that despite such oppressive measures, she remained firm in her commitment to truth and justice in journalism.
Beyond the newsroom, she served the industry in multiple roles.
She chaired the Awards Nominating Panel of the inaugural Nigerian Media Merit Award and was a member of the Advisory Council of the Faculty of Social and Management Sciences at Ogun State University.
She was also honoured in 1986 as an Eisenhower Fellow.
Later in her career, she received the Diamond Awards for Media Excellence Lifetime Achievement Award, making her only the second woman to be so honoured for her immense contributions to journalism and democracy in Nigeria.
Additionally, she served as Chairperson of the CNN African Journalist of the Year Awards.
Dr. Abiola was married to Chief MKO Abiola, acclaimed winner of the 1993 presidential election, and stood beside him during Nigeria’s turbulent political years.
The family is expected to announce funeral arrangements in due course.
