Williams Kayode
Prominent Nigerians have paid glowing tributes to Dr. Doyin Abiola, Nigeria’s first female editor-in-chief of a national newspaper and former Managing Director of National Concord, who died on Tuesday night at the age of 82.
Confirming her death in a telephone interview, Jamiu Abiola, son of the late Chief MKO Abiola, said, “Yes, she passed away last night.”
News of her passing has sparked a wave of heartfelt reactions across the country, especially from the media and political communities, where she had earned a lasting reputation for excellence, courage, and professionalism.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu described her as “a media trailblazer and a soldier of democracy.” In a statement issued on Wednesday, he noted, “Dr. Doyin Abiola was not just a journalist. She was a builder of institutions, a defender of press freedom, and a firm believer in democratic values. Her life’s work helped shape the media landscape of Nigeria.”
Veteran journalist and former Ogun State governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba, said, “We have lost a fearless editor and one of the brightest minds in Nigerian journalism. Doyin was a reference point for women who aspired to leadership in our profession.”
Renowned broadcaster Bimbo Oloyede said, “She opened the doors for many of us. She was more than a media leader — she was a mentor, a challenger of norms, and an example of integrity.”
The Nigerian Guild of Editors called her passing a “monumental loss,” adding that “her contributions to media development in Nigeria cannot be overstated.”
Her alma mater, the University of Ibadan, described her as “a distinguished alumna whose legacy inspires generations.”
These tributes reflect the towering legacy of a woman who spent over three decades shaping Nigerian journalism, refusing to be limited by gender or fear of authority.
Born in 1943, Doyin Abiola studied English and Drama at the University of Ibadan, graduating in 1969. She began her career at Daily Sketch, where she wrote a popular column, Tiro, focused on gender and public issues.
In 1970, she proceeded to the United States for postgraduate studies, earning a PhD in Communications and Political Science from New York University in 1979. She returned to Nigeria and joined Daily Times, rising to Group Features Editor and later becoming a member of the editorial board.
Rejecting a patronising offer to serve as “Women Editor,” she insisted on merit-based roles and quickly proved her worth.
She later became the pioneer daily editor of National Concord and, in 1986, made history as Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of the Concord Group — one of the most powerful media organisations in Nigeria at the time. Under her leadership, the group published up to 14 titles across newspapers and magazines.
During the dark years of General Sani Abacha’s regime, she stood firm as Concord offices were raided and presses destroyed. The paper was proscribed for 18 months, but Dr. Abiola never wavered in her commitment to press freedom. In a 2001 interview, she remarked, “You don’t give up on truth and justice simply because it’s dangerous.”
Beyond her editorial roles, she contributed to media development nationally and internationally — chairing the Awards Nominating Panel of the maiden Nigerian Media Merit Award, serving on academic advisory councils, and later chairing the CNN African Journalist of the Year Awards.
In recognition of her contributions, she was named an Eisenhower Fellow in 1986 and received the Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (DAME) Lifetime Achievement Award, becoming only the second woman to do so.
She was married to Chief MKO Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993, presidential election. Through the tumultuous political years that followed, she remained a steadfast partner and unwavering advocate of democracy.
Dr. Doyin Abiola (1943–2025) was a trailblazing Nigerian journalist and media executive. She was the first Nigerian woman to become Editor-in-Chief of a national daily newspaper. She served as Managing Director of National Concord between 1986 and 1995. She held a PhD in Communications and Political Science from New York University, and later served as Chairperson of the CNN African Journalist Awards. She was also an Eisenhower Fellow and recipient of the DAME Lifetime Achievement Award. Throughout her life, she remained an advocate for gender equality, press freedom, and democratic governance.
Funeral arrangements will be announced by the family.
