Prominent journalist Dr. Doyin Abiola, wife of the victor (M.K.O Abiola) of the June 12, 1993, presidential election has passed away. According to sources, she passed away from sickness yesterday at precisely 9:15 p.m.
The first woman from Nigeria to serve as an editor of a daily newspaper in her country, she was the former managing director and publisher of National Concord. She, like many of the late politician’s spouses, suffered through the turmoil and stress brought on by the illegal cancellation of the historic poll and the subsequent hardships at home and in the Concord.
Doyin Abiola received her education at the University of Ibadan in Nigeria, where she graduated in 1969 with a degree in drama and English. She began working at the Daily Sketch Newspaper after graduating. She began penning a column in the newspaper called “Tiro” at this time, which addressed a variety of societal concerns, including gender problems.
She left the Daily Sketch Newspaper in 1970 to study for a master’s degree in journalism in the United States. After returning, she worked for Daily Times as a Features Writer and eventually became the Group Features Editor. Later, she attended New York University, where she graduated in 1979 with a PhD in political science and communications.
She rejoined the Daily Times after completing her doctoral study and was assigned to the editorial board, where she collaborated with seasoned editors Stanley Macebuh, Dele Giwa, and Amma Ogan.
Her time would be brief, though, since she was asked to serve as the first daily editor of the recently established National Concord newspaper. After that, she relocated to National Concord to work as an editor. In 1986, she was elevated to the position of managing director/editor-in-chief.
She was the first Nigerian woman to hold the position of chief editor of a Nigerian daily newspaper.
In 1981, she got married. She worked at the National Concord Newspaper for thirty years. She also held a number of positions in the nation’s media sector.
