Tinubu mourns Nigeria’s First female editor-in-chief, Doyin Abiola

• ‘An Amazon and an icon in Nigerian journalism’ — President Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has mourned the death of Dr. Doyin Abiola, Nigeria’s First female editor-in-chief of a national daily newspaper, and one of the county’s most influential media figures.

She died at the age of 82, early on Wednesday.

In his condolence message on Wednesday, President Tinubu described Mrs Abiola as “an Amazon and an icon in Nigerian journalism.”

“She broke the gender barrier, becoming the first woman to edit a national newspaper and the first Managing Director of a daily newspaper,” the president wrote.

Read the full statement on Mrs Abiola by the president below.

I received with deep sadness the news early on Wednesday of the passing of Dr. Doyinsola Hamidat Abiola, a trailblazing journalist, editor, and former Managing Director of the defunct Concord Group of newspapers and wife of the late Bashorun MKO Abiola.

Doyin Abiola, 82, was an Amazon and an icon in Nigerian journalism. She stayed in the journalism course since starting as a reporter with the defunct Daily Sketch after graduating from the University of Ibadan in 1969, majoring in English and Drama.

She broke the gender barrier, becoming the first woman to edit a national newspaper and the first Managing Director of a daily newspaper.

Her immense contributions to journalism and gender equity laid a foundation for generations of women. Her impact on our democracy was even more profound.

Doyin embodied integrity, tenacity, hard work, commitment to excellence and dedication to public good and democratic good governance.

In 1980, she emerged as the pioneer Editor of National Concord, owned by the late MKO Abiola. She later became the managing director and editor-in-chief of all the Concord titles, including founding the Weekend Concord, which set new standards for making people the focus of reporting.

I had a good relationship with the late Doyin, which stemmed from my close relationship with the late MKO Abiola.

As MKO’s wife, Doyin became acquainted with politics and took a keen interest in it, particularly when her husband ran for the country’s presidency in 1993.

She played a prominent role in MKO’s election, mobilising and providing direction for the media under her control.

And when the June 12 election, won by her husband, was annulled, she did not stand aside. Despite the military junta shutting down the Concord Group, she also joined the fray, demanding the validation of the election. She was a soldier of democracy in her own right.

Nigerians will never forget Doyin Abiola’s leadership during her illustrious journalism career, her championing women’s empowerment, and her commitment to democracy.

I commiserate with the Abiola and Aboaba families, her only daughter, Doyinsola, and the government and people of Lagos and Ogun States.

May her soul rest in peace. May this nation be blessed with more women of Doyin Abiola’s calibre and pedigree.

Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR

President, Federal Republic of Nigeria

Born in 1943, Dr. Abiola spent over three decades in the media industry, breaking barriers and shaping public discourse through journalism.

She earned a degree in English and Drama from the University of Ibadan in 1969 and began her career at Daily Sketch, where she wrote a widely read column, Tiro, focusing on public and gender issues.

In 1970, she travelled to the United States for postgraduate studies, and later obtained a PhD in Communications and Political Science from New York University in 1979.

On her return to Nigeria, she joined Daily Times as a Features Writer and rose to the position of Group Features Editor.

She was later appointed to the paper’s editorial board, working alongside the likes of Stanley Macebuh, Dele Giwa, and Amma Ogan.

Doyin went on to become the pioneer daily editor of National Concord, and in 1986, was appointed Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief, making her one of the most powerful women in Nigerian media at the time.

As editor and later Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Abiola led the National Concord newspaper to become one of Nigeria’s most influential media platforms.

Under her leadership, the Concord Group expanded to publish as many as 14 newspapers and magazines.

Doyin once turned down an offer to become “Woman Editor” at Daily Times, a role she felt underestimated her capabilities.

She insisted on being judged by merit rather than gender, eventually joining as a Features Writer and rising to the role of Group Features Editor.

During General Sani Abacha’s regime, soldiers invaded the Concord premises and destroyed printing presses. The newspaper was proscribed for 18 months.

She later recalled in a 2001 interview that despite the pressure, she remained committed to truth and justice in journalism.

Beyond her newsroom accomplishments, she served the industry in various capacities.

She chaired the Awards Nominating Panel of the maiden Nigerian Media Merit Award and sat on the Advisory Council of the Faculty of Social and Management Sciences at Ogun State University.

In 1986, she was named an Eisenhower Fellow.

Years later, she received the Diamond Awards for Media Excellence Lifetime Achievement Award for her outstanding contribution to journalism and democracy in Nigeria, becoming only the second woman to receive the honour.

She also served as Chairperson of the CNN African Journalist of the Year Awards.

She was married to the late Chief MKO Abiola, the winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election, and stood by him during the years of political turmoil that followed.

Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced by the family.