Doyin Abiola, a respected journalist and widow of the late Moshood Abiola—the man widely believed to have won Nigeria’s historic June 12, 1993 presidential election—has passed away.
She died on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, at 9:15 pm, after a period of illness.
Doyin made a lasting mark in Nigeria’s media landscape. She once served as managing director and editor-in-chief of National Concord, a newspaper founded by her husband. She was also the first Nigerian woman to lead a daily newspaper as editor—breaking new ground for women in journalism.
A graduate of the University of Ibadan, Doyin earned her degree in English and Drama in 1969. Her early career began at the Daily Sketch, where she ran a thought-provoking column titled Tiro, often focusing on societal issues and women’s voices.
In 1970, she moved to the United States to further her studies, earning a master’s degree in journalism. Upon her return, she joined Daily Times, steadily rising through the ranks to become Group Features Editor. She later pursued a PhD in communications and political science at New York University, which she completed in 1979.
After her doctorate, she returned to Daily Times briefly before joining the newly launched National Concord, where she would later become editor-in-chief in 1986. Her leadership there spanned over three decades, shaping public discourse and mentoring future media professionals.
Doyin Abiola was not just a media pioneer—she was a symbol of resilience. During the political turmoil that followed the annulment of the 1993 election, she remained strong, navigating both public and personal challenges with dignity.
Her passing marks the end of an era in Nigerian journalism, but her legacy lives on through her work, her contributions to media, and the doors she opened for women in the industry.
