By Gideon Maxwell
August 6, 2025
Dr. Doyinsola Hamidat Abiola, veteran journalist and wife of the late Chief MKO Abiola, has died at the age of 82, following a brief illness on Tuesday night, according to family sources.
Dr. Abiola was a prominent figure in Nigerian journalism and the first woman to serve as editor of a national newspaper and later as managing director of a daily newspaper in the country.
Born in 1943, she began her journalism career in 1969 with the Daily Sketch after graduating from the University of Ibadan with a degree in English and Drama.
She later obtained a Master’s degree in Journalism and a Ph.D. in Communications and Political Science from institutions in the United States.
In 1980, she was appointed the pioneer editor of National Concord, a newspaper founded by her husband, Chief MKO Abiola.
She would go on to lead the entire Concord Group as Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief, introducing innovations in journalism, including the launch of Weekend Concord.
Her tenure in the media was marked by strong advocacy for women’s empowerment and democratic ideals.
Following the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election, which was widely considered to have been won by her husband, she remained vocal in demanding the validation of the results.
Even after the military government shut down the Concord Group, she stood firm in support of democratic principles.
Reacting to her death, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu described her as “an Amazon and an icon in Nigerian journalism,” praising her contributions to media development and democratic governance.
ALSO READ: Scientists confirm longest-ever lightning flash spanning from Texas to Missouri
He acknowledged her close involvement in the June 12 struggle and described her as “a soldier of democracy in her own right.”
President Tinubu, in a statement issued on Wednesday, mourned her passing and described her as a pioneer in journalism and a courageous defender of democracy.
He noted that her life was marked by integrity, tenacity, and a deep commitment to public service and good governance.
“She broke gender barriers and led with excellence. Nigerians will never forget her leadership in journalism, her role in empowering women, and her dedication to democracy,” the president said.
Tinubu also reflected on her political involvement, particularly during the 1993 presidential election won by MKO Abiola and later annulled.
He praised her for standing firm in the face of military repression, recalling how she continued to demand the validation of her husband’s mandate even after the Concord Group was shut down.
“I had a good relationship with the late Doyin, born from my closeness with MKO Abiola. She was not just MKO’s wife; she was a soldier of democracy in her own right,” Tinubu said.
He 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,” he concluded.
