By Peter Dansu Dr. Doyin Abiola, trailblazing journalist, media executive, and wife of the late Chief MKO Abiola, has passed away at the a...
By Peter Dansu
Dr. Doyin Abiola, trailblazing journalist, media executive, and wife of the late Chief MKO Abiola, has passed away at the age of 82. She died peacefully on Tuesday night at about 9:15 p.m.
A towering figure in Nigerian journalism, Dr. Abiola was the first woman to become editor of a national daily newspaper in Nigeria, and the first female Managing Director and Publisher of National Concord newspapers.
Her journalism career began in 1969 with Daily Sketch, where she wrote a widely read column, Tiro, tackling issues of public interest with a strong focus on gender matters. In 1970, she left for the United States to pursue a master’s degree in Journalism.
Upon returning to Nigeria, she joined Daily Times as a Features Writer and rose through the ranks to become Group Features Editor. She later earned a PhD in Communications and Political Science from New York in 1979.
After completing her doctoral studies, she returned to Daily Times, where she served on the editorial board alongside notable journalists such as Stanley Macebuh, Dele Giwa, and Amma Ogan.
Her career reached new heights when she was invited to join the newly established National Concord as its pioneer daily editor. By 1986, she was appointed Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief — the first Nigerian woman to hold such a position in a national newspaper.
Dr. Abiola’s time at National Concord spanned three decades, during which she became a respected voice in the media industry. She also played significant roles outside the newsroom — including serving as Chairperson of the Awards Nominating Panel at the inaugural Nigerian Media Merit Awards, and as a member of the Advisory Council of the Faculty of Social and Management Sciences at Ogun State University.
In recognition of her contributions to journalism and media development in Nigeria, she received numerous accolades. These include the prestigious Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (DAME) Lifetime Achievement Award — making her the second woman ever to be so honoured after Mrs. Omobola Onajide. She was also a recipient of the Eisenhower Fellowship in 1986.
Dr. Doyin Abiola leaves behind an enduring legacy as a pioneer, mentor, and fierce advocate for media excellence and democratic values in Nigeria.
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