Dr. Doyin Abiola, trailblazing Nigerian journalist and wife of the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola, has died at the age of 79. Family sources confirmed she passed away at 9:15 p.m. on Monday after a brief illness. A pioneer in Nigerian media, she was the first woman to become editor of a Nigerian daily newspaper and later served as Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of the National Concord.

Born in 1946, Abiola earned a degree in English and Drama from the University of Ibadan in 1969 before starting her journalism career at the Daily Sketch, where she penned the popular column Tiro. She later earned a master’s degree in Journalism in the U.S. and a PhD in Communications and Political Science from New York University in 1979. Returning to Nigeria, she worked at the Daily Times before joining National Concord as its pioneer editor, rising to helm the publication in 1986.

Abiola’s illustrious career spanned over three decades, during which she broke gender barriers in the media industry. She stood by her husband through the political turmoil following the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election. Her passing marks the end of an era for Nigerian journalism, with tributes already pouring in to celebrate her legacy.