Governor Sanwo-Olu Mourns Passing Of Dr. Doyin Abiola, Trailblazing Nigerian Journalist.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has expressed deep sorrow over the death of Dr. Doyin Abiola, a pioneering journalist and the first woman to serve as managing director and publisher of Nigeria’s National Concord newspapers. Dr. Abiola, who was also the widow of Chief MKO Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election, passed away on Tuesday, 5 August 2025, at 9:15 p.m. after a period of illness. She was 82.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Gboyega Akosile, Governor Sanwo-Olu described Dr. Abiola as an “Amazon in the media industry” whose contributions were instrumental in shaping Nigerian journalism. Born in 1943, she graduated from the University of Ibadan in 1969 with a degree in English and Drama. Her career began at the Daily Sketch, where her widely read column “Tiro” tackled pressing social issues, including gender equality. She later earned a master’s degree in journalism in the United States and a PhD in Communications and Political Science from New York University in 1979.
Dr. Abiola’s tenure at National Concord spanned over three decades, during which she broke gender barriers by becoming the first Nigerian woman to edit a national daily newspaper and later its managing director in 1986. Her leadership fostered a generation of journalists and elevated the newspaper’s influence in national discourse. She also served as chairperson of the Nigerian Media Merit Award’s nominating panel and was a member of the advisory council for Ogun State University’s Faculty of Social and Management Sciences. Her contributions earned her the Diamond Award for Media Excellence (DAME) Lifetime Achievement Award, making her the second woman to receive this honour, and an Eisenhower Fellowship in 1986.
Governor Sanwo-Olu highlighted Dr. Abiola’s role as a supportive partner to Chief MKO Abiola, noting her contributions to nation-building and gender advocacy. “Her death is a great loss to journalism and the media industry in Nigeria,” he said, praying for eternal rest for her soul and strength for her family, including her only daughter, Doyinsola, and loved ones. President Bola Tinubu also paid tribute, calling her a “soldier of democracy” for her unwavering support during the turbulent years following the 1993 election annulment, when she mobilised media efforts to demand its validation despite military crackdowns.
Social media has been awash with tributes, with one X user recalling Dr. Abiola’s grace in directing Concord editors not to gloat over General Sani Abacha’s death, despite his role in her husband’s imprisonment. Her legacy as a fearless journalist and advocate for democracy continues to inspire, with funeral arrangements to be announced by the family.
