The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lagos State Council, is calling on the government to immortalise Dr. Doyin Abiola, the late veteran journalist and former Managing Director of National Concord.
Dr. Abiola, who passed away Tuesday evening at the age of 82, was widely celebrated as a trailblazer in Nigeria’s media industry—and the first Nigerian woman to become an editor of a national daily.
“She was a newsroom general”
Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), NUJ Lagos Chairman Adeleye Ajayi described Abiola as a force in Nigerian journalism.
“We mourn Dr. Doyinsola Abiola. We have lost an erudite journalist. We have lost a generalissimo of the newsroom,” Ajayi said.
“There’s no way the history of Nigerian journalism can be told without her name.”
He urged the government to honour her legacy—possibly by naming a media centre or journalism institute after her—to serve as both a resource hub and a lasting tribute.
Breaking barriers for women in media
Dr. Abiola was not only a top-tier editor but also one of the few women to lead a national media outlet in a male-dominated industry.
Dr. Adeola Ekine, former chairperson of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Lagos Chapter, described her as “an institution.”
“She changed the narrative for female journalists in Nigeria,” Ekine said. “She proved that with hard work, skill, and integrity, no barrier is insurmountable.”
A legacy to inspire the next generation
Both NUJ and NAWOJ leaders hope that Abiola’s achievements will inspire young female journalists to pursue excellence—especially in print media, where women remain underrepresented.
Ajayi emphasized the need for more female voices in the newsroom, saying Abiola’s life is proof that women can lead and shape the media landscape at the highest level.
