Dr. Doyin Abiola, MKO’s widow dies at 82

Dr. Hamidat Doyin Abiola, widow of the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola and a trailblazer in Nigerian journalism, has died at the age of 82.

According to family sources, she passed away at 9:15 p.m. on Tuesday, August 5, 2025.

She was a towering figure in the nation’s media and the first woman to serve as Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of a national newspaper in Nigeria.

A journalist, columnist, editor, and media executive, Dr. Doyin Abiola carved out her legacy long before her marriage to the late MKO Abiola, acclaimed winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election.

She began her journalism career in 1969 at the Daily Sketch, where her bold and influential column “Tiro” addressed hard-hitting social issues, including gender rights and civic responsibility.

In 1970, she left for the United States to further her education, earning a master’s degree in journalism. Upon her return, she joined the Daily Times as a Features Writer, eventually rising to the position of Group Features Editor.

She later obtained a PhD in Communications and Political Science from New York in 1979.

Her professional reputation soared when she was appointed by MKO Abiola as the pioneer daily editor of the National Concord newspaper.

READ ALSO: Why I stepped down for MKO Abiola in 1993—Atiku

In 1986, she made history again when she was named Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of the paper, becoming the first Nigerian woman to occupy such a position in a national daily.

Her career at Concord spanned over three decades, during which she mentored generations of journalists and helped shape the tone of Nigerian media through the 1980s and 1990s.

Her editorial leadership placed her among the most respected figures in Nigeria’s journalistic history.

Dr. Doyin Abiola married MKO Abiola in 1981 and remained a steadfast partner during his political rise and the turbulent aftermath of the June 12 election annulment.

Despite the political persecution that followed her husband’s campaign for democratic legitimacy, she maintained a dignified public presence and continued her advocacy for press freedom and national development.

Tributes have begun pouring in from across the country, celebrating her courage, intellect, and pioneering spirit. Journalists, political leaders, and civil society groups have described her passing as the end of an era in Nigerian media.

Funeral arrangements are yet to be announced by the family.