President Bola Tinubu and Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu have expressed grief at the passing of a media trailblazer, Dr. Doyinsola Abiola, wife of the late politician and acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief M.K.O Abiola.
In separate tributes, President Tinubu and Governor Sanwo-Olu hailed Dr. Abiola as a trailblazing journalist, pro-democracy champion and an Amazon of the media industry.
President Tinubu, in his personally endorsed tribute, titled “Goodnight, Doyin Abiola, Media trailblazer, Soldier of Democracy,” wrote:
“I received with deep sadness the news early on Wednesday of the passing of Dr. Doyinsola Hamidat Abiola, a trailblazing journalist, editor, and former managing director of the defunct Concord Group of newspapers and wife of the late Bashorun MKO Abiola.
“Doyin Abiola, 82, was an Amazon and an icon in Nigerian journalism. She stayed in the journalism course since starting as a reporter with the defunct Daily Sketch after graduating from the University of Ibadan in 1969, majoring in English and Drama.
“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.
“In 1980, she emerged as the pioneer Editor of National Concord, owned by the late MKO Abiola. She later became the managing director and editor-in-chief of all the Concord titles, including founding the Weekend Concord, which set new standards for making people the focus of reporting.
“I had a good relationship with the late Doyin, which stemmed from my close relationship with the late MKO Abiola.
“As MKO’s wife, Doyin became acquainted with politics and took a keen interest in it, particularly when her husband ran for the country’s presidency in 1993.
“She played a prominent role in MKO’s election, mobilising and providing direction for the media under her control.
“And when the June 12 election, won by her husband, was annulled, she did not stand aside. Despite the military junta shutting down the Concord Group, she also joined the fray, demanding the validation of the election. She was a soldier of democracy in her own right.
“Nigerians will never forget Doyin Abiola’s leadership during her illustrious journalism career, her championing women’s empowerment, and her commitment to democracy.
“I commiserate with the Abiola and Aboaba families, her only daughter, Doyinsola, and the government and people of Lagos and Ogun States.
“May her soul rest in peace. May this nation be blessed with more women of Doyin Abiola’s calibre and pedigree.”
Governor, Mr. Sanwo-Olu, in his message, described the late Dr. Abiola as a role model and an Amazon in the media industry.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, the Governor said “Dr. Doyin Abiola, during her lifetime, especially at a younger age, contributed her quota to the growth and development of journalism in Nigeria as a reporter, features writer, group features editor and the first Nigerian woman to be an editor and Managing Director of a Nigerian national daily.”
He said Dr. Doyin Abiola’s death is a great loss to journalism and the media industry in Nigeria and on behalf of his family, the people and government of Lagos State, he sympathised with the Abiola family, the deceased’s friends, colleagues, and journalists in Nigeria, over the death of Dr. Doyin Abiola.
“Dr. Doyin Abiola etched her name in gold in the media industry as the first Nigerian woman to be an editor and managing editor of a national daily. She was a role model to many journalists in Nigeria, having nurtured and given opportunities to many media practitioners who have become leading voices in the journalism profession and leaders in different sectors.
“Dr. Doyin Abiola made lots of positive impacts during her lifetime, contributing meaningfully to the growth and development of journalism in Nigeria. She was a supportive wife to late Chief MKO Abiola and also contributed positively to nation building, especially on gender-related issues.
“I pray that God will grant the soul of our beloved Dr. Doyin Abiola eternal rest and comfort the immediate family, friends and colleagues of the deceased with the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss,” the Governor concluded.
