JUST IN: Late MKO Abiola’s Wife, Doyin, Dies at 82

Dr. Doyin Abiola, widow of the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola and a pioneering media icon in Nigeria, has died at the age of 82.

According to PM News, she passed away on the night of Tuesday, August 5, 2025, at exactly 9:15 p.m.

The loss has left a deep void in Nigeria’s media and political landscape.

Doyin Abiola was not just known as the wife of the late MKO Abiola, the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993, presidential election.

She had made her own mark long before their union, especially in journalism.

She began her media career in 1969 at Daily Sketch, where she ran a popular column titled Tiro.

Through her column, she tackled major social issues, especially those affecting women, at a time when few others did.

Her bold voice stood out in a male-dominated industry.

In 1970, she moved to the United States and earned a master’s degree in journalism.

Upon her return to Nigeria, she joined the Daily Times as a features writer.

There, her talent and tenacity helped her rise to the position of Group Features Editor.

Driven by a thirst for knowledge, she returned to the U.S. and earned a PhD in Communications and Political Science in 1979.

Back in Nigeria, she joined the Daily Times editorial board, working alongside media giants like Dele Giwa, Stanley Macebuh, and Amma Ogan.

Her defining moment came when National Concord, a newspaper owned by MKO Abiola, appointed her its pioneer daily editor.

In 1986, she shattered another glass ceiling, becoming the first Nigerian woman to hold the post of Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of a national daily.

Her leadership at National Concord spanned three decades.

She was a strong pillar in Nigeria’s media growth and mentored generations of journalists.

Doyin Abiola married MKO Abiola in 1981.

Through the highs of journalism and the storms of politics especially during the June 12 struggle she remained unshaken.

She stood by her husband during his fight for Nigeria’s democracy, even as his historic mandate was denied.

Today, Nigeria mourns not just a former First Lady of democracy but a media powerhouse, a trailblazer, and a woman of courage.

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