Veteran Nigerian journalist and former Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of National Concord, Dr. Doyinsola Abiola, has died at the age of 82.

Her death was confirmed on Wednesday by Jamiu Abiola, a son of the late Chief MKO Abiola, who stated that she passed away on Tuesday night.

Dr. Abiola was widely regarded as a pioneer in Nigerian journalism and is celebrated as the first Nigerian woman to serve as editor-in-chief of a national daily newspaper. She spent over three decades in the media industry, breaking professional barriers and championing press freedom and gender equity.

Born in 1943, she earned a degree in English and Drama from the University of Ibadan in 1969. She began her journalism career at Daily Sketch, where she wrote the popular column Tiro, focused on public and gender issues.

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

Upon her return to Nigeria, she joined Daily Times as a Features Writer, later rising to the position of Group Features Editor and becoming a member of the editorial board. She notably declined a gender-specific “Woman Editor” role, opting instead to be evaluated based on merit.

Dr. Abiola later became the pioneer daily editor of National Concord, and in 1986 was appointed Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of the publication. Under her leadership, the Concord Group expanded to include as many as 14 titles and grew into one of the country’s most influential media platforms.

During General Sani Abacha’s military regime, the Concord premises were invaded by soldiers, printing presses were destroyed, and the newspaper was shut down for 18 months. Despite the clampdown, Dr. Abiola maintained her commitment to press freedom and democratic ideals.

Outside the newsroom, she contributed to the media and academic sectors through various roles. She chaired the Awards Nominating Panel for the first Nigerian Media Merit Award and was a member of the advisory council for the Faculty of Social and Management Sciences at Ogun State University. In 1986, she was selected as an Eisenhower Fellow and later honoured with the Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (DAME) Lifetime Achievement Award. She also chaired the CNN African Journalist of the Year Awards.

Dr. Abiola was married to the late Chief MKO Abiola, the winner of the annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election.