The Daily Times family is mourning the loss of one of its brightest stars — Dr. Doyin Abiola — a woman whose name became synonymous with trailblazing journalism, fierce integrity, and fearless leadership in an era when few women had a seat at the table.
Dr. Abiola, who died on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, at the age of 82, was not just a journalist. She was a voice, a pioneer, and a force — reshaping Nigeria’s media landscape with grace, intelligence, and unyielding resolve.
She was also the beloved wife of the late Chief MKO Abiola, winner of the annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election — a shared journey of courage and conviction that marked both their legacies in Nigerian history.
In a statement filled with emotion and reverence, Dr. Fidelis Anosike, Chairman of Folio Media Group, publishers of the Daily Times, described her passing as “a heartbreaking loss,” noting that her contributions remain deeply woven into the fabric of Nigeria’s media evolution.
“It is with great shock and sadness that I received the news of Dr. Doyin Abiola’s passing,” Anosike wrote. “She wasn’t just a journalist — she was a compass for the profession. She lit a path that many are still walking today.”
Born into a generation where women were expected to be seen and not heard, Doyin Abiola broke every mould.
After graduating from the University of Ibadan in 1969 with a degree in English and Drama, she began her journalism career at Daily Sketch, writing a fearless column titled Tiro that tackled gender, politics, and society with a clear and compelling voice.
She soon joined the Daily Times as a Features Writer. Through sheer grit and journalistic brilliance, she rose to become the Group Features Editor — a phenomenal achievement for any reporter, let alone a woman in the male-dominated newsroom of the 1970s.
Not satisfied, she packed her bags and flew across the Atlantic to pursue a Master’s degree in Journalism and later a PhD in Communications and Political Science at New York University. When she returned, she took her seat on the Daily Times Editorial Board — working alongside the finest minds of the era, including Stanley Macebuh, Dele Giwa, and Amma Ogan.
Doyin Abiola became the first Nigerian woman to be appointed Editor of a daily newspaper when she was named pioneer editor of National Concord. By 1986, she was Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief — the most powerful editorial position in the industry.
She held that position with distinction for three decades, not only steering the paper’s editorial vision but mentoring dozens of young journalists — many of whom now hold leadership roles in Nigeria’s media, academia, and public service.
“Doyin was a pathfinder to women journalists in particular and an inspiration to the media industry in general,” Anosike said. “She stood tall in boardrooms, in newsrooms, and in the hearts of the Nigerian people.”
Dr. Abiola’s impact went far beyond bylines and headlines.
She chaired the first Nigerian Media Merit Awards nominations panel and served on advisory councils, including at Ogun State University. Her advocacy for women’s rights and her passion for social justice made her not only a media icon, but also a respected public intellectual.
Her accolades were many, but among the most cherished was the Diamond Award for Media Excellence (DAME) Lifetime Achievement Award, which she received as only the second woman honoree in its history. She was also awarded the Eisenhower Fellowship in 1986 — a recognition of her global stature as a leader and changemaker.
In a world still fighting for gender equity and journalistic freedom, Dr. Doyin Abiola stands immortal — not just as a journalist, but as a symbol of what is possible when brilliance meets boldness.
Her voice may be silent now, but her words, her work, and her witness will echo for generations.
“We at Folio Media Group and Daily Times join Nigerians and media professionals across the world in mourning this monumental loss,” Anosike said. “But we also celebrate her life — rich, full, fearless. Dr. Doyin Abiola lived for truth, for justice, and for Nigeria.”
She is gone, but her story — like all great stories — lives on.