Doyin Abiola, first female editor and wife of MKO Abiola, dies at 82

Doyin Abiola, the first female editor of a Nigerian daily newspaper and wife of late Concord publisher and June 12, 1993, presidential election winner, MKO Abiola, is dead.
She reportedly passed away at 9:15 pm on Tuesday, August 5, after an undisclosed illness, according to multiple reports quoting family sources.
A towering figure in Nigerian journalism, Doyin Abiola broke multiple barriers in her career. She rose to become the managing director and editor-in-chief of the defunct National Concord newspaper, which was owned by her husband.
She was widely respected for her pioneering contributions to the media and her resilience during the political turmoil that followed the annulment of the June 12, 1993, election — a period that tested her both professionally and personally.
Born in 1943, she earned a degree in English and Drama from the University of Ibadan in 1969 and began her journalism career at the Daily Sketch, where her column Tiro gained popularity for addressing public concerns, especially gender equity.
She later moved to the United States, where she obtained a master’s degree in journalism and a Ph.D. in Communications and Political Science from New York University in 1979.
Upon returning to Nigeria, she joined the Daily Times as a Features Writer and rose to become Group Features Editor. She also served on its editorial board alongside the likes of Stanley Macebuh, Dele Giwa, and Amma Ogan.
In 1980, she became the pioneer editor of the newly launched National Concord, eventually rising to the position of managing director in 1986. She married Chief MKO Abiola in 1981 and stood by him through the turbulent years that followed his political aspirations and incarceration.
Beyond journalism, Doyin Abiola served the media industry in numerous ways. She chaired the nomination panel of the Nigerian Media Merit Award (NMMA) and was a member of the advisory council of the faculty of social and management sciences at Ogun State University.
She received multiple honours in her lifetime, including the Eisenhower Fellowship in 1986 and the DAME Lifetime Achievement Award — becoming only the second woman to receive the latter after Omobola Onajide.
She leaves behind a legacy of courage, professionalism, and excellence in journalism.