Doyin Abiola, a renowned Nigerian journalist and the wife of the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola, is dead. She passed away on August 5, 2025, at the age of 82 after a prolonged illness.
In addition to her pioneering journalism career, Dr. Abiola was a public speaker, mentor, and passionate advocate for democracy and media freedom.
Born in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, Nigeria, she was not only celebrated for her professional achievements but also admired for her grace, intellect, and the dignified manner in which she upheld the Abiola legacy following the death of her husband, MKO Abiola, who died in detention in 1998 after being the presumed winner of Nigeria’s 1993 presidential elections.
Here are some things to know about her.
1. She was born Doyinsola Abiola in 1943.
2. She obtained her undergraduate degree in English and Drama from the University of Ibadan in 1969, a master’s in journalism from Columbia University, and later a PhD in Communications and Political Science from the University of Lagos.
3. She began her journalism career at the Daily Sketch in 1969, where she penned a column titled Tiro that addressed issues of public concern.
4. In 1970, she left to pursue her master’s degree in journalism. On her return, she was employed as a features writer at the Daily Times, where she rose to become the group features editor.
5. She returned to the Daily Times and was deployed to the editorial board after her PhD in 1979, where she worked briefly before joining National Concord (owned by her husband, MKO Abiola) as its pioneer daily editor before becoming the editor.
6. She quickly rose through the ranks to become the managing director/editor-in-chief in 1986, where she made history as the first Nigerian woman to become the editor-in-chief of a daily newspaper in Nigeria.
7. Doyin Abiola served in several media advisory roles, including at the Faculty of Social and Management Sciences, Ogun State University.
8. She was the second woman to receive a DAME Lifetime Achievement Award after Mrs. Omobola Onajide.
9. She was the first Nigerian woman to be selected for the prestigious Eisenhower Fellowship in 1986.
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