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Tag: Doyin Abiola

  • Torrents of tributes for media icon Doyin Abiola

    Torrents of tributes for media icon Doyin Abiola

    • Journalism trailblazer dies at 82
    • Tinubu, governors, NPAN, NGE, others mourn

    Media icon Dr. Hamidat Doyinsola Abiola, who died on Tuesday night in Lagos yesterday received a torrent of tributes.

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu described her as a trailblazer and champion of democracy, who fought with courage against the military rule.

    Dr. Abiola, 82, was widow of the late business mogul Basorun Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, the winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.

    Dr. Abiola was the first female to be appointed newspaper editor by the Concord Press Limited where she rose to become the Manging Director/Editor-in-Chief.

    Before then, she was features editor of the Daily Times.

    She was editor-in-chief    of the Concord Group during the struggle for the actualisation the 1993 presidential election won  by her late husband. The late Abiola was denied victory by the military government of the Gen. Ibrahim Babangida. He was incarcerated by the administration of the late Gen. Sani Abacha.

    Abiola died in detention in 1998.

    During this period Concord was shut twice by the military. Abiola and reporters at the newspaper were hounded, harassed and detained. But she was unbowed.

    Yesterday, prominent Nigerians and media men, women flocked to her Lekki Phase I Lagos resident to commiserate with her family.

    They were received by her only daughter Mrs. Doyinsola Bamise and other family members.

    The Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), once led by Abiola, the Nigerian Guild of Editor (NGE), where she was a leader, The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Lagos Council sent tributes and condolences to the family.

     Governors and Nigerians from all walks of life also paid tributes.

    Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, his Ogun State counterpart, Prince Dapo Abiodun, hailed her dedication and commitment to journalism.

    Dr. Dele Alake, Minister of Solid Minerals Development, who was editor of Sunday Concord and National Concord at different times under the late Dr. Abiola as Editor-in-Chief penned a moving eulogy.

    Paying glowing tribute to her, President Tinubu described the late Mrs. Abiola as a woman of integrity and excellence, who dedicated her life to the public good and the advancement of democratic governance in the country.

    He relived her courage during the June 12, 1993 election crisis, saying that she  embodied “integrity, tenacity, hard work, commitment to excellence and dedication to public good and democratic good governance.”

    President Tinubu, in a statement, lauded her pioneering achievements in journalism, noting that she broke gender barriers by becoming the first woman to edit a national newspaper and later, the first female Managing Director of a daily newspaper in Nigeria.

    He said: “Doyin Abiola was an Amazon and an icon in Nigerian journalism. She stayed in the journalism course since starting as a reporter with the defunct Daily Sketch after graduating from the University of Ibadan in 1969, majoring in English and Drama.”

    The president said under her leadership, the National Concord introduced Weekend Concord, which revolutionised human-interest reporting in the country.

    Read Also: Sanwo-Olu inaugurates network of roads, hospital in Badagry

    President Tinubu also recalled his personal bond with the late journalist, which was forged through his close relationship with her husband, Chief Abiola.

    He said: “As MKO’s wife, Doyin became acquainted with politics and took a keen interest in it, particularly when her husband ran for president in 1993. She played a prominent role in MKO’s election, mobilising and providing direction for the media under her control.”

    The President also recalled that after the annulment of the 1993 election, Dr. Abiola refused to be a bystander, adding that after the military junta shut down the Concord Group, she stood her ground, demanding the validation of the historic election.

    President Tinubu also praised the deceased for her role in promoting gender equity and empowering women through her leadership in journalism.

    He said: “Nigerians will never forget Doyin Abiola’s leadership during her illustrious journalism career, her championing of women’s empowerment, and her commitment to democracy.”

    He extended his condolences to the Abiola and Aboaba families, her daughter, Doyinsola, and the governments and people of Lagos and Ogun States.

    The President added: “May her soul rest in peace. May this nation be blessed with more women of Doyin Abiola’s calibre and pedigree.”

    Editors mourn senior colleague

    The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) expressed sadness over the passage, saying that Dr. Abiola’s legacy underscored  her pioneering spirit, breaking down gender barriers and mentoring generations of journalists who have gone on to become great professionals.

    NGE said in a statement by its president, Eze Anaba and General Secretary, Onuoha Ukeh, that Dr. Abiola’s leadership, dedication to excellence, and commitment to press freedom, gender equity, and national development have left an indelible mark on the profession.

    It added: We remember her courage and resilience during the military era, withstanding harassment and threats during her tenure at Concord Newspapers.

    “As we pray for her soul’s repose, we celebrate her achievements, which serve as a reminder that a person’s legacy is defined by the positive impact they leave behind.

    “Dr. Abiola’s life and work inspire us to strive for excellence, driven by passion and commitment, regardless of gender or circumstance.”

    NPAN: she served to the end

     NPAN paid tribute to the deceased, describing her as “our sister, friend, colleague and a trustee of our esteemed Association.”

    A statement by its president, Kabiru Yusuf, recalled that she was a record breaker, who left an indelible mark in the newspaper industry and served the industry till her death.

    Yusuf said: “Dr. Doyin Abiola, until her death was a trustee of the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN)

    “She was also a recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Diamond Awards For Media Excellence (DAME).

    “On behalf of the Executive Council of our esteemed Association, we commiserate with her entire family ,  members of the Fourth Estate of the Realm and former staff of the defunct Concord Newspapers.”

  • Ode to the heroine of the press

    Ode to the heroine of the press

    • By Dele Alake

    It is said that some are born great and others have greatness thrust upon them. Dr. Doyin Abiola, who joined the Saints yesterday, showed up on both counts.

    She was the scion of the illustrious Aboaba family, reputed for its elitist pedigree and nobility built on professionalism and class.

    That heritage ensured that she  climbed to the pinnacle of scholarship. Starting with Bachelor’s in English and Drama of Nigeria’s premier University of Ibadan, she followed with a Master’s and later crowned it with Doctor of Philosophy at the New York University, United States.

    A seminal reflection of this interesting  foray into knowledge indicated a zig-zag, trapeze dance between theory and practice, private and public media practice. For instance, she started her journalism.practice at Daily Sketch, a regional newspaper of the defunct Western State Government in 1969.

    After her Master’s, she worked at Daily Times, a national medium owned by the Federal Government and following the completion of her doctorate, she moved from Daily Times to Concord Press of Nigeria to birth a newspaper with a distinct and different  approach to mainstream news and tabloid journalism.

    Dr Doyin Abiola, gentle and genial, soft yet solid, inhaled and exhaled journalism. Breaking the news day after day, splashing shockers on the front pages and making sure that readers got the news of Concord hot very early at the newstands, were the goals that drove her to deliver the best copies to the market.

    She was, indeed, a newsman, ( as there are no women in journalism), trained for the job with an incredible passion for investigation and staying power for following up till the end of each episode.

    Read Also: Court restores EFCC’s interim forfeiture order on Yahaya Bello’s ‘properties’

    Dr. Abiola’ s managerial expertise was unparalleled. Complementing her husband, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola, the publisher, Dr.Abiola supervised several innovative projects to position Concord Press as the primus inter pares in the media industry. For instance, Concord  was the first to archive newspapers by converting from print to microfilm.

    She showed her motherly disposition in the provision of conducive working conditions and personal interest in staff welfare and professional development.

    Only a professional and manager of exceptional capacity and courage could have translated the publisher’s vision of independent journalism into daily publication of news and respected leaders. Only a woman of quintessential professional standards and stoic sacrifice could have survived the regular onslaught of military invasion of Concord’s newsroom, incessant closures  and incarceration of staff, and ultimately, the detention and death of the publisher.

    It is a testament of her doggedness that she brought her resourcefulness and stature to count on the side of the Nigerian people when it mattered most, unbowed by the wicked incarceration of her husband and winner of the June 12, 1993 election.

    Dr Doyin Abiola’s transition signals the gradual exit of the beautiful ones who brought sparkle to the lives of many readers by publishing delightful stories of hope and perseverance.

    Dr Abiola’s transition is a personal loss to me and my family. She was the auntie who held my hand and led me up the corporate steps of Africa’s foremost media establishment. She was the sister who polished the edges of a character in flight to stardom and higher responsibilities. She was the boss who believed in me and contributed to what I have become today. She was the leader who spotted bright minds and nurtured to fruition talents that could have been spent half way. She was the mother who counselled and encouraged us to stand by the values of integrity and enterprise.

    As you prepare to meet your Maker,  Auntie D, the world is aware that you left a void that will be difficult to fill.

    Adieu, Auntie, and rest peacefully in the bossom of the Lord.

    • Dr. Alake

    Former Concord Editorial Board member,

    Former Editor Sunday Concord,

    Former Editor National Concord ,

    Former Commissioner for Information and Strategy Lagos State ,

    Minister of Solid Minerals Development.

  • Her life and times

    Her life and times

    The late Dr. Doyin Abiola, 82, was the Managing Director and publisher of the defunct National Concord newspaper.

     She was the first  woman to be an editor of a Nigerian daily newspaper.

    She was educated at the University of Ibadan, where she earned a degree in English and Drama in 1969.

    After graduation, she started work with the Daily Sketch Newspaper in 1969. During this period, she started writing a column in the newspaper called Tiro, which was addressing sundry issues of public concern, including gender matters.

     In 1970, she left Daily Sketch Newspaper and traveled to the United States to pursue a master’s degree programme in Journalism.

     Upon her return, she was employed as a Features Writer at Daily Times and rose to become the Group Features Editor. She later went to New York University and obtained a PhD in communications and political science in 1979.

     After her PHD programme, she returned to the Daily Times and was deployed in the editorial board where she worked with other experienced editors like Stanley Macebuh, Dele Giwa and Amma Ogan.

    Read Also: Sanwo-Olu inaugurates network of roads, hospital in Badagry

     It was, however, to be a short stay as the newly formed National Concord newspaper invited her to be its pioneer daily editor.

     The late Abiola  was promoted managing director/editor-in-chief in 1986 and thus became the first Nigerian woman to become the editor in chief of a daily newspaper in Nigeria.

    She was also the widow of the  publisher and proprietor of National Concord Newspaper, Chief Moshood Abiola, whom she married in 1981.

    Her career at National Concord Newspaper spanned three decades. She also served in various capacities in the media industry in Nigeria.

     She was the Chairperson of the Awards Nominating panel at the first Nigerian Media Merit Award to be hosted in Nigeria.

    She was a member of Advisory Council, Faculty of Social and Management Sciences, Ogun State University.

    Until her death on Tuesday, Dr Abiola was a recipient of Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (DAME) for her lifelong devotion to advancing the frontiers of knowledge and strengthening the media as a pillar of democracy. The Trustees of DAME unanimously approved her selection as a recipient of its Lifetime Achievement Award at the 24th DAME Ceremony. She was the second woman to receive a DAME Lifetime Achievement Award after Mrs.(Omobola Onajide). She was granted Eisenhower Fellowship in 1986.

  • Lagos NUJ  calls for immortalisation of Concord ex-MD

    Lagos NUJ  calls for immortalisation of Concord ex-MD

    The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lagos State Council,  yesterday called for  immortalisation of Dr Doyin Abiola, a former Managing Director and Publisher of the National Concord.

    The Chairman of the council, Mr Adeleye Ajayi, made the call during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

     Doyin, one of the widows of the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 Presidential Election, Chief MKO Abiola, died on Tuesday evening. She was  82.

    Ajayi said that Doyin was a veteran journalist who made significant contributions to the growth of Nigeria’s  media industry.

    “The government should immortalise Dr Abiola based on the roles she played.

    “It might be to name a media centre or any media facility in her name,” he said.

    According to him, the facility should serve as a  resource centre or a media institute, where people can go and learn and remember her works .

    Ajayi described her as an erudite journalist, a veteran of the newsroom and a frontline woman in journalism, whose contributions to the industry would not be forgotten.

    “We mourn Dr Doyinsola Abiola. We have lost an erudite journalist. We have lost a veteran. We have lost a generalissimo of the newsroom.

    Read Also: Court restores EFCC’s interim forfeiture order on Yahaya Bello’s ‘properties’

    “You agree with me that she was one of the frontline women in journalism and she did her utmost best.

    “She was the Editor-in-Chief of the defunct Concord, and she played her role meritoriously; so, there is no way the history of Nigerian press or the history of journalism  in Nigeria will be  without mentioning Doyinsola Abiola.

    “There must be a special place for her,” he said.

    The NUJ chairman said that  impacts made by the deceased should encourage more female journalists to show interest in print journalism and excel in it.

    Also, Dr Adeola Ekine, the immediate past Chairperson, Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Lagos State Chapter, described Doyin as an institution in the journalism industry.

    Ekine said that the former publisher of the  Concord  was able to rise  to the peak of her journalism career which, she said, was a male-dominated profession.

    “She was really a determined woman and changed the narrative of female journalists in Nigeria.

    “I believe that, for the younger generation of female journalists, Dr Abiola’s life will really be a lesson, because she showed all of us that with hard work, skill and integrity, no barrier is insurmountable.

    “We need to learn, we need to grow and challenge the norm, and we should also let our voice be heard clearly, just like the legacy of Dr Doyin Abiola,” she said.

  • Daily Times mourns former Editorial Board member Doyin Abiola

    Daily Times mourns former Editorial Board member Doyin Abiola

    The management of Folio Media Group (FMG), Publishers of Daily Times Newspapers, has expressed sadness over the passing of its former staff and Editorial Board member, Dr. Doyin Abiola who died on Tuesday August 5, 2025, at the age of 82.

     Dr. Doyin Abiola was the wife of late Chief MKO Abiola, winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election which was annulled by the military government of Gen. Ibrahim Babangida.

    Doyin Abiola left Nigeria in 1970 and travelled to the United States to pursue a Master’s degree programme in Journalism.

     Upon her return, she was employed by Daily Times as a Features Writer and rose to become the newspaper’s Group Features Editor. 

    She later travelled again for her PhD and returned to Daily Times as member of the newspaper’s Editorial Board, alongside other notable and experienced editors like Stanley Macebuh, Dele Giwa and Amma Ogan.  

    In a statement Wednesday, signed by Dr. Fidelis Anosike, Chairman/Publisher, Folio Media Group described the death of Dr. Doyin Abiola as ‘shocking,’ saying she left at a time the media industry and the nation needed her wealth of experience the most.

    Dr. Anosike said that Doyin, who later became Managing Director/Editor-In-Chief of National Concord, was a consummate journalist, writer, advocate of social justice and champion of women’s rights, adding that, as the first woman editor of a daily newspaper in Nigeria, she was a pathfinder to women journalists in particular and an inspiration to the media industry in general.

    “It is with great shock and sadness that I have received the news of the passing of Dr. Doyin Abiola, a former Features Writer with Daily Times Newspapers who rose to the position of Group Features Editor and subsequently, a member of its Editorial Borad.

    “As at the 70s, it was big news for a woman to hold such top position in the nation’s media industry and Doyin, in deed, distinguished herself and rose to the topmost of the Features Desk.

    “That she later moved on to become the first woman editor of a daily newspaper of Nigeria, was a loud testimony of the stuff she was made of, as a committed professional.

    ”The late Mrs. Doyin Abiola was consummate journalist, writer, advocate of social justice and champion of women’s rights. For the pioneer positions she held in Nigeria’s media industry and for distinguishing herself in subsequent leadership positions, Doyin was a pathfinder to women journalists in particular and an inspiration to the media industry in general,” Anosike said.

    “We at Folio Media Group, and Daily Times in particular, join the rest of well-meaning Nigerians and the global media industry to mourn the demise of Dr. Doyin Abiola and pray that her family be comforted,” Anosike stated.

    He urged the Abiola family to take consolation in the fact that the late Doyin lived a fulfilled life, contributed immensely to the development of Nigeria and humanity, before her passing at a ripe age of 82.

    Doyin Abiola was educated at the University of Ibadan, where she earned a degree in English and Drama in 1969.

    After graduation, she started work with the Daily Sketch Newspaper and had a column in the newspaper called ‘Tiro,’ which was addressing sundry issues of public concern, including gender matters before moving to Daily Times and later went to New York University and obtained a PhD in communications and political science in 1979.

    Read Also: Nigeria advocates new global health vision with Africa at the center

    She returned to the Daily Times and was deployed to the editorial board where she worked with other experienced editors like Stanley Macebuh, Dele Giwa and Amma Ogan. Her next move was to National Concord newspaper where she was appointed as its pioneer daily editor.

    She was promoted to be the managing director/editor-in-chief in 1986 and became the first Nigerian woman to become the editor in chief of a daily newspaper in Nigeria.

    Her career at National Concord Newspaper spanned three decades. She also served in various capacities in the media industry in the country and was Chairperson of the Awards Nominating panel at the first Nigerian Media Merit Award to be hosted in the country, and also a member of Advisory Council, Faculty of Social and Management Sciences, Ogun State University.

    She was a recipient of Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (DAME) for her lifelong devotion to advancing the frontiers of knowledge and strengthening the media as a pillar of democracy.

    The Trustees of DAME unanimously approved her selection as a recipient of its Lifetime Achievement Award at the 24th DAME Ceremony.

    She was the second woman to receive a DAME Lifetime Achievement Award after Mrs. Omobola Onajide) and was later granted Eisenhower Fellowship in 1986.

  • Doyin Abiola: Ode to the heroine of the press, by Alake

    Doyin Abiola: Ode to the heroine of the press, by Alake

    It is said that some are born great and others have greatness thrust upon them. Dr. Doyin Abiola, who joined the Saints yesterday, showed up on both counts.

    She was the scion of the illustrious Aboaba family, reputed for its elitist pedigree and nobility built on professionalism and class.

    That heritage ensured that she climbed to the pinnacle of scholarship. Starting with a Bachelor’s in English and Drama from Nigeria’s premier University of Ibadan, she followed with a Master’s and later crowned it with a Doctor of Philosophy at New York University, United States.

    A seminal reflection of this interesting foray into knowledge indicated a zig-zag, trapeze dance between theory and practice, private and public media practice. For instance, she started her journalism practice at Daily Sketch, a regional newspaper of the defunct Western State Government in 1969.

    After her Master’s, she worked at Daily Times, a national medium owned by the Federal Government and following the completion of her doctorate, she moved from Daily Times to Concord Press of Nigeria to birth a newspaper with a distinct and different approach to mainstream news and tabloid journalism.

    Dr Doyin Abiola, gentle and genial, soft yet solid, inhaled and exhaled journalism. Breaking the news day after day, splashing shockers on the front pages and making sure that readers got the news of Concord hot very early at the newsstands, were the goals that drove her to deliver the best copies to the market.

    She was, indeed, a newsman ( as there are no women in journalism), trained for the job with an incredible passion for investigation and staying power for following up till the end of each episode.

    Dr. Abiola’s managerial expertise was unparalleled. Complementing her husband, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola, the publisher, Dr.Abiola supervised several innovative projects to position Concord Press as the primus inter pares in the media industry. For instance, Concord was the first to archive newspapers by converting from print to microfilm.

    She showed her motherly disposition in the provision of conducive working conditions and personal interest in staff welfare and professional development.

    Only a professional and manager of exceptional capacity and courage could have translated the publisher’s vision of independent journalism into the daily publication of news and respected leaders.

    Read Also: Tinubu hails Doyin Abiola as media trailblazer, champion of democracy

    Only a woman of quintessential professional standards and stoic sacrifice could have survived the regular onslaught of military invasion of Concord’s newsroom, incessant closures and incarceration of staff, and ultimately, the detention and death of the publisher.

    It is a testament to her doggedness that she brought her resourcefulness and stature to count on the side of the Nigerian people when it mattered most, unbowed by the wicked incarceration of her husband and winner of the June 12, 1993, election.

    Dr Doyin Abiola’s transition signals the gradual exit of the beautiful ones who brought sparkle to the lives of many readers by publishing delightful stories of hope and perseverance.

    Dr Abiola’s transition is a personal loss to me and my family. She was the auntie who held my hand and led me up the corporate steps of Africa’s foremost media establishment. She was the sister who polished the edges of a character in flight to stardom and higher responsibilities.

    She was the boss who believed in me and contributed to what I have become today. She was the leader who spotted bright minds and nurtured to fruition talents that could have been spent halfway. She was the mother who counselled and encouraged us to stand by the values of integrity and enterprise.

    As you prepare to meet your Maker, Auntie D, the world is aware that you left a void that will be difficult to fill.

    Adieu, Auntie, and rest peacefully in the bosom of the Lord.

    Dr. Dele Alake

    Former Concord Editorial Board member,

    Former Editor Sunday Concord,

    Former Editor National Concord,

    Former Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Lagos State,

    Honourable Minister of Solid Minerals Development.

  • Sanwo-Olu mourns Doyin Abiola

    Sanwo-Olu mourns Doyin Abiola

    Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Dr. Doyin Abiola, the widow of the late winner of the June 12, 1993, presidential election, Chief MKO Abiola.

    In a condolence message issued in Lagos on Wednesday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Gboyega Akosile, Governor Sanwo-Olu described Dr. Abiola as “an amazon in the media industry” whose impact on journalism in Nigeria was both pioneering and profound.

    Dr. Abiola, who died on Tuesday at the age of 82, was hailed by the governor as a trailblazer and role model who mentored generations of journalists and significantly shaped the country’s media landscape.

    “She rose through the ranks as a reporter, features writer, Group Features Editor, and ultimately became the first Nigerian woman to serve as Editor and Managing Director of a national daily. Her death is a great loss to journalism and the media industry in Nigeria,” Sanwo-Olu said.

    Read Also: Tinubu hails Doyin Abiola as media trailblazer, champion of democracy

    The governor noted that beyond her accomplishments in the media, Dr. Abiola played an instrumental role in national development, particularly in championing gender-related issues, and remained a respected voice in national discourse even after the death of her husband.

    “On behalf of my family, the government and the people of Lagos State, I extend my heartfelt condolences to the Abiola family on the passing of an accomplished journalist and media manager,” Sanwo-Olu stated.

    He further described her as a pillar of support to her husband, the late Chief MKO Abiola, and praised her lifelong dedication to excellence, justice, and the upliftment of women in society.

    “Dr. Doyin Abiola etched her name in gold in the annals of Nigerian journalism. She nurtured and empowered numerous media professionals who have gone on to become leading voices and respected figures in various sectors,” the governor added.

    Sanwo-Olu prayed for the peaceful repose of her soul and asked God to comfort her family, friends, and professional colleagues with the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

  • Tinubu hails Doyin Abiola as media trailblazer, champion of democracy

    Tinubu hails Doyin Abiola as media trailblazer, champion of democracy

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has paid glowing tribute to the late Dr. Doyinsola Hamidat Abiola, describing her as a woman of integrity and excellence who dedicated her life to the public good and the advancement of democratic governance in Nigeria.

    In a heartfelt statement on Wednesday, President Tinubu honoured Dr. Abiola’s trailblazing role in Nigerian journalism and her courageous contributions to democratic struggles, particularly during the June 12, 1993 election crisis. 

    He described her as a woman who embodied “integrity, tenacity, hard work, commitment to excellence and dedication to public good and democratic good governance.”

    Dr. Abiola, 82, passed away early Wednesday, marking the end of a storied career that spanned decades in media, public advocacy, and political activism. 

    She was the former Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of the now-defunct Concord Group of newspapers and the wife of the late business mogul and winner of the annulled 1993 presidential election, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola.

    President Tinubu lauded her pioneering achievements in journalism, noting that she broke gender barriers by becoming the first woman to edit a national newspaper and later the first female Managing Director of a daily newspaper in Nigeria.

    “Doyin Abiola was an Amazon and an icon in Nigerian journalism. She stayed in the journalism course since starting as a reporter with the defunct Daily Sketch after graduating from the University of Ibadan in 1969, majoring in English and Drama”, the President said.

    Her journalistic journey reached a turning point in 1980 when she became the pioneer Editor of National Concord, one of Nigeria’s most influential newspapers at the time. 

    Under her leadership, the newspaper introduced Weekend Concord, which revolutionised human-interest reporting in the country.

    President Tinubu also recalled his personal bond with the late journalist, which, he said, was forged through his close relationship with her husband, MKO Abiola.

    “As MKO’s wife, Doyin became acquainted with politics and took a keen interest in it, particularly when her husband ran for the country’s presidency in 1993. She played a prominent role in MKO’s election, mobilising and providing direction for the media under her control,” he stated.

    Following the annulment of the 1993 election, Tinubu noted that Dr. Abiola refused to be a bystander. Even after the military junta shut down the Concord Group, she stood her ground, demanding the validation of the historic election. 

    Read Also: 15 things to know about late Dr. Doyin Abiola

    “She was a soldier of democracy in her own right,” Tinubu declared.

    The President also praised Dr. Abiola for her role in promoting gender equity and empowering women through her leadership in journalism.

    “Nigerians will never forget Doyin Abiola’s leadership during her illustrious journalism career, her championing of women’s empowerment, and her commitment to democracy,” he said.

    President Tinubu extended his condolences to the Abiola and Aboaba families, her daughter, Doyinsola, and the governments and people of Lagos and Ogun States.

    “May her soul rest in peace. May this nation be blessed with more women of Doyin Abiola’s calibre and pedigree,” the statement concluded.

  • 15 things to know about late Dr. Doyin Abiola

    15 things to know about late Dr. Doyin Abiola

    Eminent journalist Dr. Doyin Abiola and wife of the June 12, 1993 presidential election winner, Chief MKO Abiola, is dead.

    She died at exactly 9.15 pm yesterday after illness.

    Widely celebrated as the first Nigerian woman to become editor-in-chief of a national daily newspaper, Dr. Abiola spent over three decades in the media industry, breaking barriers and shaping public discourse through journalism.

    Here are 15 things to know about Dr. Doyin Abiola:

    1. She was born on February 1, 1943

    2. Doyin Abiola was educated at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria where she earned a degree in English and Drama in 1969.

    3. After graduation, she started work with the Daily Sketch Newspaper in 1969. During this period, she started writing a column in the newspaper called Tiro which was addressing sundry issues of public concern, including gender matters.

    4. In 1970, she left Daily Sketch Newspaper and traveled to the United States to pursue a master’s degree programme in Journalism.

    5. After the Masters programme, she returned to Nigeria and was offered the position of Woman Editor at the Daily Times. She rejected the offer and was later employed as a Features Writer and rose to become the Group Features Editor.

    6. She later went to New York University and obtained a PhD in communications and political science in 1979.

    7. After her PHD programme, she returned to the Daily Times and was deployed to the editorial board where she worked with other experienced editors like Stanley Macebuh, Dele Giwa and Amma Ogan.

    8. It was, however, to be a short stay as the newly formed National Concord newspaper invited her to be its pioneer daily editor. She then moved to be an editor of National Concord.

    9. She was promoted to be the managing director/editor-in-chief in 1986 and became the first Nigerian woman to become the editor in chief of a daily newspaper in Nigeria.

    10. Abiola’s career at National Concord Newspaper spanned three decades. She also served in various capacities in the media industry in Nigeria.

    11. She is also the widow of the first publisher and proprietor of National Concord Newspaper Chief Moshood Abiola whom she married in 1981.

    12. She was also a member of Advisory Council, Faculty of Social and Management Sciences, Ogun State University.

    13. Abiola was a recipient of Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (DAME) for her lifelong devotion to advancing the frontiers of knowledge and strengthening the media as a pillar of democracy. The Trustees of DAME unanimously approved her selection as a recipient of its Lifetime Achievement Award at the 24th DAME Ceremony.

    14. She was the second woman to receive a DAME Lifetime Achievement Award after Mrs.(Omobola Onajide).

    15. She was selected for the Eisenhower Fellowship in 1986, and was the first Nigerian woman to participate.

  • Abiola’s wife, Doyin, dies

    Abiola’s wife, Doyin, dies

    Dr. Doyin Abiola, wife of Concord Publisher and winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief MKO Abiola, is dead.

    Sources said she died at exactly 9.15 pm yesterday after illness.

    The former managing director and publisher of National Concord was the first Nigerian woman to be an editor of a Nigerian daily newspaper.

    Like other numerous wives of the deceased politician, she endured the storm and stress triggered by the criminal annulment of the historic poll and the tribulations that followed at the home front and in the Concord.

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    Doyin Abiola was educated at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria where she earned a degree in English and Drama in 1969. After graduation, she started work with the Daily Sketch Newspaper. During this period, she started writing a column in the newspaper called ‘Tiro,’ which was addressing sundry issues of public concern, including gender matters. In 1970, she left Daily Sketch Newspaper and traveled to the United States to pursue a master’s degree programme in Journalism. upon her return, she was employed as a Features Writer at Daily Times and rose to become the Group Features Editor. She later went to New York University and obtained a PhD in communications and political science in 1979.

     After her Ph.D programme, she returned to the Daily Times and was deployed to the editorial board where she worked with other experienced editors like Stanley Macebuh, Dele Giwa and Amma Ogan. It was, however, to be a short stay as the newly formed National Concord newspaper invited her to be its pioneer daily editor. She then moved to be an editor of National Concord. She was promoted to be the managing director/editor-in-chief in 1986. She became the first Nigerian woman to become the editor in chief of a daily newspaper in Nigeria. She married in 1981. Her career at National Concord Newspaper spanned three decades. She also served in various capacities in the media industry in the country.