By Jide Francis
Society Page Editor
Dr. Doyin Abiola, the esteemed wife of the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola and a trailblazer in Nigerian journalism, has died at the age of 82. Her passing was confirmed on Tuesday by close family sources, marking the end of a remarkable era in Nigerian media and public life.
Dr. Abiola, a revered editor, scholar, and businesswoman, made history as the first female editor-in-chief of a Nigerian national newspaper, National Concord, where she left an indelible mark through her leadership, intellect, and fierce commitment to truth and professionalism. She was not only a key figure in the media landscape but also a passionate advocate for press freedom, gender equality, and democratic values.
Her marriage to MKO Abiola, widely regarded as the symbol of Nigeria’s democracy struggle and winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election, placed her at the center of Nigeria’s socio-political evolution. Throughout the political turbulence that followed her husband’s unjust incarceration and eventual death in detention in 1998, Dr. Abiola remained a dignified and resilient figure, often advocating for justice, peace, and national unity.
Born in 1943, Doyin Abiola was an accomplished academic, holding a doctorate in communications and media studies from New York University. She combined a brilliant intellect with an unwavering work ethic, becoming a role model to generations of female journalists and media professionals in Nigeria and beyond.
Tributes have begun pouring in from across the country, with prominent Nigerians, media veterans, and political leaders mourning her passing and celebrating her outstanding legacy. The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) described her as “a pillar of professionalism, a pathfinder for women in journalism, and a beacon of courage and conviction.”
Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced by the family in the coming days.
Dr. Doyin Abiola’s death marks a significant loss for Nigeria, but her legacy as a pioneering journalist, a defender of democracy, and a woman of grace and intellect will endure for generations to come.
