MKO Abiola’s wife, Doyin, dies at 82

A pioneering journalist and former Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of National Concord, Dr. Doyin Abiola, has died at the age of 82.

Her death was confirmed on Wednesday by one of the sons of the late Chief MKO Abiola, Jamiu Abiola.

Dr. Abiola, who was one of the wives of the late winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election, was widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in Nigerian journalism and the first Nigerian woman to serve as editor-in-chief of a national daily.

Born in 1943, she graduated with a degree in English and Drama from the University of Ibadan in 1969 and began her journalism career at Daily Sketch, where she ran a popular column titled Tiro, addressing public and gender issues.

In 1970, she travelled to the United States for postgraduate studies, later earning a PhD in Communications and Political Science from New York University in 1979. 

Upon returning to Nigeria, she joined Daily Times as a Features Writer and rose to become Group Features Editor. She was later appointed to the paper’s editorial board, where she worked alongside prominent journalists such as Stanley Macebuh, Dele Giwa, and Amma Ogan.

Doyin Abiola went on to become the pioneer daily editor of National Concord, and in 1986, she was named Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief, becoming one of the most powerful women in the Nigerian media at the time.

Under her leadership, National Concord grew into one of Nigeria’s most influential publications, with the Concord Group expanding to publish up to 14 newspapers and magazines.

She once declined an offer to serve as “Woman Editor” at Daily Times, insisting instead on roles that recognised her merit beyond gender. That decision, she believed, affirmed her belief in competence over tokenism.

Throughout the political upheavals following the annulment of the June 12 election, she stood firmly by her husband, Chief MKO Abiola, who was widely regarded as the winner of that historic vote.

ALSO READ TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE