I can see a great many thronging the funeral rites venue to witness today the burial of the remains of Dr. Doyinsola Abiola, the newspaper amazon who bestrode journalism world like a colossus.

Doyin Abiola passed away last month, precisely on August 5, 2025. She was aged 82. Indeed, she had been off her beat for a long time after the death of her husband, Moshood Kasimowo Abiola, MKO, renowned businessman, publisher, philanthropist and politician who died under controversial circumstances.

After graduation in 1969 from the University of Ibadan where she read English and Drama, Doyin then Doyin Aboaba joined the Daily Sketch in Ibadan. During her time at the newspaper, she wrote a regular column she titled ‘Tiro’ which was to indicate it was a woman’s column and it would discuss women’s affairs. But Doyin went beyond that to discuss the world, every subject under the sun. After a year, she took off to pursue her Master’s degree programme in the United States.

On her return, she joined the Daily Times as a Features Writer. At the time, it was the Features arm of the Editorial Department that wrote editorials, making two women who were involved in editorial writing at the Daily Times in that period. The other lady was Dupe Adeogun. At the time there were a handful of brilliant women in the Editorial Department such as Bisi Adebiyi, woman editor; Agbeke Ogunsanwo, editor of children’s magazine and Margaret Cole who was science editor, and who signed her writings as Peggy Cole, assisted by Terry Agbelemoge.

When Doyin came in, Ekem Nwankwo the novelist, was head of features and Deputy Editor, (Editorial) and chief leader writer. Others in that arm were Chike Ezimora, Olu Idowu (Akaraogun). Levi Okoroafor, later Senator, soon joined. After Nwankwo left, Doyin Aboaba took over as Features Editor and was in the saddle until she left to take a PhD in communications and political science. She returned in 1979 and was redeployed to the newly established Editorial Board by Dr. Patrick Dele Cole. Dr. Cole brought Dr, Stanley Macebuh as Editorial Adviser and Chair of the new editorial board.

It was when Doyin Abiola became Features Editor that our paths crossed properly. Quick witted, Doyin did not waste time in showing her class. She did not shrink in throwing punches during our editorial afternoon conference, the conference of line editors in the Editor’s Office to consider materials going into the paper the following day. Line editors took turns to brief the meeting and the subjects were heatedly debated.

Doyin was the chief leader writer at the time of Areoye Oyebola’s editorship and that of Olusegun Osoba. Interesting times that witnessed a gathering of very bright and informed minds! You could trust Doyin Abiola with power-packed, hard-hitting editorials, predictably in a language that was her indisputable forte. One of her draft editorials that stuck to my head was “The Unanswered Questions.” The editorial was in response to the defence by Joseph Gomwalk, Governor of Benue-Plateau State, who had been accused of corruption by Aper Aku, a public-spirited man who was later to become a politician.

Doyin Abiola was able to squeeze time in her tight roll call schedule to lecture at the Daily Times Training School. For her, punctuality was the sole of business. She was not known to keep meetings waiting. Being warm-hearted, she laughed easily. She was as warmed hearted as she was unsparing when incidents called for it. We worked fairly closely: She was Features Editor and yours sincerely was Chief Sub-Editor. She left the Times in 1980 to become the founding editor of National Concord and later its Managing Director.

May her path be blessed on her continuing journey in the Beyond and through Creation with gaze prayerfully turned to the Heights.