Nigeria’s media landscape has lost one of its most illustrious pioneers, Dr. Doyinsola Abiola, who passed away on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, at the age of 82. A trailblazing journalist and former Managing Director of the now-defunct National Concord newspapers, Dr. Abiola was widely celebrated as the first Nigerian woman to serve as editor-in-chief of a national daily.
Born Doyinsola Aboaba, she began her academic journey at the University of Ibadan, where she earned a degree in English and Drama in 1969. Soon after, she joined the Daily Sketch newspaper, where she quickly gained prominence through her column, Tiro, which focused on public interest issues and gender matters.
In 1970, she left the Daily Sketch and travelled to the United States to further her education, earning a Master’s degree in Journalism. Upon her return to Nigeria, she joined the Daily Times as a Features Writer and rose through the ranks to become the Group Features Editor.
Her academic quest continued with a Ph.D. in Communications and Political Science from New York University, which she obtained in 1979. Returning to Daily Times, she served on the editorial board alongside legendary figures like Stanley Macebuh, Dele Giwa, and Amma Ogan.
Shortly afterward, she was invited to join the newly established National Concord newspaper as its pioneer daily editor. Her tenure there marked a historic ascent, culminating in her promotion to Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief in 1986—making her the first Nigerian woman to hold such a position in the history of the country’s newspaper industry. She married Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola in 1981.
Dr. Abiola’s illustrious career at National Concord spanned over three decades, during which she played a pivotal role in shaping public discourse and mentoring a generation of journalists. She also served in various capacities in Nigeria’s media industry, including as Chairperson of the Awards Nominating Panel at the inaugural Nigerian Media Merit Award and as a member of the Advisory Council for the Faculty of Social and Management Sciences at Ogun State University.
Her contributions were widely recognised. She was a recipient of the prestigious Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (DAME) Lifetime Achievement Award, honouring her unwavering commitment to journalism and democratic values. She became the second woman to receive the DAME Lifetime Achievement Award, following Mrs. Omobola Onajide. In 1986, she was also awarded the Eisenhower Fellowship.
Dr. Doyin Abiola’s passing marks the end of a remarkable era in Nigerian journalism. She is remembered not just for breaking gender barriers, but for her integrity, vision, and lifelong dedication to strengthening the role of the media in society.
