MKO Abiola’s Wife, Veteran Journalist, Doyin, Dies at 82
- The family of the late Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola has been thrown into mourning
- Dr Doyin Abiola, the widow of the late MKO Abiola, passed on on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, at the age of 82
- The deceased was the first Nigerian woman to serve as an editor of a Nigerian daily newspaper, National Concord
Legit.ng journalist Adekunle Dada has over 8 years of experience covering metro, government policy, and international issues
Lagos state - Dr. Doyin Abiola, the wife of the winner of the June 12, 1993, presidential election, Chief MKO Abiola, has passed on.
It was gathered that Dr Abiola died at the age of 82 at exactly 9.15 pm on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, after an illness.
Source: Twitter
As reported by Vanguard, the first Nigerian woman to serve as an editor of a Nigerian daily newspaper was born in 1943.
The deceased was the former managing director and publisher of National Concord.
The eminent journalist bagged a degree in English and Drama in 1969 from the University of Ibadan in Oyo state.
Abiola worked with the Daily Sketch Newspaper, writing a column called ‘Tiro,’ after she graduated from the university. Her column addressed sundry issues of public concern, including gender matters.
In 1970, she left the Daily Sketch Newspaper to pursue a master’s degree programme in Journalism in the United States.
Upon her return to Nigeria, she resumed as a Features Writer at Daily Times and rose to become the Group Features Editor.
The exceptional journalist later proceeded to New York University to obtain a PhD in communications and political science in 1979.
She was the pioneer daily editor of the National Concord newspaper and later became an editor of the National Concord.
Dr Doyin was promoted to the position of managing director/editor-in-chief in 1986 and became the first Nigerian woman to become the editor-in-chief of a daily newspaper in Nigeria.
She married in 1981. Her career at National Concord Newspaper spanned three decades. She also served in various capacities in the media industry in the country.
MKO Abiola's wife, Doyin arrested for fraud
Recall that the Dr. Doyin Abiola was arraigned before the Federal High Court, Lagos, for fraud in 2013.
The Financial Malpractices Investigation Unit (FMIU) of Special Fraud Unit (SFU) said that between 2006 and 2008, as a Director of the Integrated Microfinance Bank, Dr. Abiola granted to herself without collateral and approval from the Management, the sum of N26,611,246.48.
Dr Abiola was one of four managing directors of the Integrated Microfinance Bank (IMFB) located at 6A Adeniyi Jones Avenue, Ikeja, who were arrested and charged by the SFU.
Babangida admits MKO Abiola won 1993 election
Meanwhile, Legit.ng earlier reported that former military President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) conceded that late Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola won the disputed June 12, 1993 presidential election
The June 12 election has been a hot topic with diverse accounts of the events narrated by different parties.
However, in his autobiography: 'A Journey in Service,' which was launched on Thursday, February 20, 2025, it was disclosed that Babangida said he was convinced that Abiola won.
Proofreading by Kola Muhammed, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
