Dr. Doyin Abiola, trailblazing journalist and widow of the late MKO Abiola, acclaimed winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election, has died.

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Sources confirmed that she passed away at exactly 9:15 p.m. yesterday after a period of illness.

 

Dr. Abiola, a former Managing Director and Publisher of National Concord, was a pioneer in Nigeria’s media industry. She holds the distinction of being the first Nigerian woman to serve as the editor of a daily newspaper.

 

Throughout her life, Dr. Abiola stood firm in the face of the political and personal storms that followed the annulment of the historic June 12 poll, both at home and within the Concord media group, founded by her late husband.

 

Born in 1944, she earned her first degree in English and Drama from the University of Ibadan in 1969. Her journalism career began at Daily Sketch, where she penned a popular column titled Tiro, tackling various societal issues, including gender equality.

 

In 1970, she left Nigeria for the United States to pursue a Master’s degree in Journalism. On her return, she joined Daily Times as a Features Writer and quickly rose to become Group Features Editor. She later obtained a PhD in Communications and Political Science from New York University in 1979.

 

Dr. Abiola returned to Daily Times and was appointed to its editorial board, working alongside notable names such as Stanley Macebuh, Dele Giwa, and Amma Ogan. Shortly after, she was invited to join the newly established National Concord as its pioneer daily editor. By 1986, she was promoted to Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief — the first Nigerian woman to achieve such a feat.

 

Married in 1981, Dr. Abiola’s remarkable career at National Concord spanned over three decades. She also served in various national and industry-wide media roles, contributing significantly to the growth and evolution of journalism in Nigeria.

 

Tributes are already pouring in from across the media and political landscape, celebrating her courage, professionalism, and legacy.