Dr. Doyin Abiola, veteran journalist, media executive and wife of the late MKO Abiola, the winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election, has died. She passed away at 9:15 pm on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, after a period of illness.
Her death marks the end of an era in Nigerian journalism and public life. A trailblazer in the media, Doyin Abiola was the first Nigerian woman to serve as editor of a national daily newspaper and later became the managing director and editor-in-chief of the National Concord, a newspaper owned by her late husband.
A graduate of English and Drama from the University of Ibadan in 1969, she began her journalism career with the Daily Sketch, where she wrote the influential column Tiro. The column tackled pressing national and social issues, including gender advocacy, laying the foundation for her lifelong commitment to public discourse and equity.
In 1970, she left Nigeria for the United States to further her studies, eventually earning a master’s degree in journalism. Her academic pursuit continued at New York University, where she bagged a PhD in communications and political science in 1979.
Upon her return to Nigeria, Doyin joined the Daily Times as a features writer and quickly rose to become the Group Features Editor. She was later appointed to the newspaper’s prestigious editorial board, working alongside prominent figures like Stanley Macebuh, Dele Giwa, and Amma Ogan.
Her major career milestone came when she was appointed the pioneer editor of National Concord, which had just been established by her husband in the early 1980s. Her tenure at National Concord was historic not only for the paper’s editorial direction but also because she became the first Nigerian woman to hold the title of editor-in-chief of a national daily.
In 1986, she was appointed Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of National Concord, a position she held for years, overseeing one of Nigeria’s most influential newspapers during a turbulent period in the country’s political history.
Doyin Abiola’s legacy is also shaped by her steadfast role as the wife of Moshood Abiola during and after the annulled June 12 election. Like many of MKO Abiola’s wives, she endured the pain and uncertainty that followed the historic 1993 election and her husband’s incarceration by the military regime. Through it all, she managed to keep the Concord brand afloat and retained her dignity, even as political pressure mounted on the family and the newspaper.
She married MKO Abiola in 1981 and stood as both a personal and professional partner in one of Nigeria’s most storied public lives. Her career in journalism spanned over three decades, during which she mentored many younger journalists, influenced national debates, and served on various boards and committees in the media sector.
Tributes have begun pouring in from across the country and beyond, as colleagues, friends, and admirers remember her courage, intellect, and contributions to the media and nation-building.
Dr. Doyin Abiola is survived by children and relatives. Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced by the family in the coming days.
