The widow of the late Chief Moshood Abiola, acclaimed winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election, and former Managing Director of National Concord Newspapers, Doyinsola Abiola, has been pronounced dead at the age of 82.
The veteran journalist, who was the first Nigerian woman to serve as Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of a national daily newspaper, was confirmed dead by medical experts following a brief illness.
Her death was confirmed by a family source, who disclosed that she passed away at around 9:15 p.m. yesterday after a short illness.
Born in 1943 in Igbajo, Osun State, Doyin Abiola was a trailblazer in Nigerian journalism.
She began her career at Daily Sketch with a popular column titled “Tiro”, and later joined Daily Times as a features writer, eventually becoming Group Features Editor.
The deceased earned her first degree in English and Drama from the University of Ibadan in 1969, and later completed a PhD in Communications and Political Science from New York University in 1979.
Abiola was a strong advocate for press freedom, gender equality, and democratic values. She served on several media boards and panels and was honoured with awards including the Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (DAME) Lifetime Achievement Award and an Eisenhower Fellowship.
Folio Media Group, publishers of Daily Times, described her death as a monumental loss to the media profession.
Its Chairman, Fidelis Anosike, hailed her legacy of courage, leadership, and public service.
She is survived by children, grandchildren, and other family members. Funeral arrangements will be announced by the family.
