President Bola Tinubu has paid tribute to Dr. Doyin Abiola, the wife of late MKO Abiola, GCFR, and a pioneering Nigerian journalist, who passed away on August 5, 2025, at the age of 82.
In his condolence message to the family, President Tinubu described her as a trailblazer in journalism and a champion of democracy and women’s empowerment.
Tinubu praised Abiola’s integrity, tenacity, hard work, commitment to excellence, and dedication to public good and democratic governance.
He noted that her contributions to journalism and gender equity have laid a foundation for generations of women, and her impact on Nigerian democracy was profound.
His words:“She broke the gender barrier, becoming the first woman to edit a national newspaper and the first managing director of a daily newspaper.
“Her immense contributions to journalism and gender equity laid a foundation for generations of women. Her impact on our democracy was even more profound.
“Doyin embodied integrity, tenacity, hard work, commitment to excellence, and dedication to public good and democratic good governance,” the President said in a message he personally signed.
Tinubu also highlighted Abiola’s role in promoting women’s empowerment and her commitment to democracy.
Tinubu extended his condolences to the Abiola family and prayed that her soul would rest in peace and that Nigeria would be blessed with more women of her caliber and pedigree.
Doyin Abiola was the first woman to edit a national newspaper and the first managing director of a daily newspaper in Nigeria.
She began her career as a reporter with the Daily Sketch in 1969 and later became the pioneer editor of National Concord in 1980, founded by her husband, MKO Abiola.
She served as managing director and editor-in-chief of all Concord titles, including the Weekend Concord, which set new standards for people-focused reporting.
She received the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (DAME) for promoting democracy and advancing knowledge in the media.
