- Safiu Kehinde
Former Managing Director of the Monitor Newspaper, Liad Tella, has paid a glowing tribute to the late ex-Managing Director of the National Tribute, Doyin Abiola, describing her as a giant among her peers.
NPO Reported the passing of the first female Managing Director of a national newspaper in Nigeria and widow of late Nigerian business mogul and politician, Moshood Abiola.
Doyin passed away on Tuesday night at the age of 82.
Joining other notable Nigerians in mourning the demise of the late journalist, Tella, in his tribute, recounted how he met the late former National Concord Managing Director after his resignation from the Punch Newspaper.
“Dr. Hamidat Doyin Abiola: Goodbye! Doyen of Journalism, Good night, you came you saw and conquered, good night; you served with dignity and honour and dignity, good night; you modelled and mentored many that came your way, good night; Lady of great virtue Rest in peace.
“My first encounter with Dr. Hamidat Doyin Abiola was very historical. I resigned my Appointment at the Punch Newspaper to protect my integrity and honour shortly after my return from the NUJ tour of Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union to scout for university scholarship in mass communication for our members who were non-graduates in a bold attempt to up the standard of journalism practice in Nigeria.
“Alhaji MKO Abiola had directed my employment following the contact established by Professor Nurudeen Alao, the then Dean of the Faculty of the Social Sciences university of Lagos; alhaji Saka FAgbo, the legendary NTA general Manager and Nigeria’s Consul General in Jeddah and Justice Muri Okunola then of the Lagos High Court.
“My letter of appointment had been waiting for me for two months. Both of us as Ex- journalists of the Daily Times Newspaper extraction, we became very close.
“In spite of her high position, Doyin was very humble and accommodating, caring and always in pursuit of excellence in journalism, scouting for and always putting round pegs in round holes not minding your tribe or creed.
“She told me that the Publisher had requested me to be his Special Assistant on Islamic Affairs. That was almost two decades of my professional and family relationship with the MKO Abiolas.” He wrote.
Tella further highlighted the contribution of the late Doyin Abiola to the National Concord and the Nigerian media industry.
“As the pioneer editor of the National Concord, Doyin as the lead editor, walked among the giants, the likes of Henry Odukomaya, the pioneer General Manager of the Concord press; Dele Giwa, pioneer editor of the Sunday Concord; Tom Bohai (Tom D bee), pioneer Chairman of the editorial Board; Yakubu Muhammed, Shina Adedipe, Michael Obi; and Duro Onabule who later became the Chief Press Secretary to President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangiga. National and Sunday Concord newspapers were assemblage and club of the best of the best in Nigerian journalism.
“Under Doyin, in 1980 to 83, National Concord effectively challenged the legendary Daily Times leadership of the Nigerian media. When she eventually became the Managing Director and Editor-in- Chief of the company, she Challenged the Daily Times group of newspapers, product for product, bringing to the Nigerian news stand, African Concord Magazine, to rival Times International, the great Tabloid; the Business concord to open new vistas in business reporting in Nigeria; Weekend Concord under Maverick journalist and king of the Tabloid, Mike Awoyinfa to take over weekend newspaper market from the Lagos Weekend Published by the Daily Times.
“Again, she pioneered community newspapering in the country with the introduction of Community Concord newspaper in all the states of the federation. Indeed, Doyin was a giant among her peers. Under her watch with Shina Adedipe as the Editor of the Sunday Concord, the circulation figure grew well above 250,000 copies and Weekend Concord 350,000 copies per weekend.
“Except the Daily Times of old, no other Newspaper in Nigeria reached that peak in Newspaper circulation. Another novel idea in newspapering introduced by Doyin Abiola was freighting of Newspaper by air across the nation. I can go on and on.” The ex-Monitor Newspaper Managing Director stated.
On her contribution to the annulled June 12,1993 election won by her husband MKO Abiola, Tella lauded Doyin’s silent diplomacy and global mobilisation during the struggle.
He described her as the brain box behind Abiola’s national and global affairs.
“On the home front, Doyin was the brain box of her husband in national and global affairs. The idea of Global Africa Food Security Conference held in London single handedly sponsored by MKO and the struggle for reparation for the hundreds of years of slavery and inhuman degradation of Africans was another glorious example.
“The history of democratic political system in Nigeria and the struggle to Actualise the June 12, 1993 presidential election won by her husband will not be completed without a tribute to her silent diplomacy and global mobilisation to actualize the presidential mandate given to her husband in the most historical free and fair election in the annals of Nigeria’s political history. I can go on and on but that will not bring Doyin back to the mortal world.” He said.
Tella bade farewell to the late journalist who had, according t him, served with dignity and honour.
“Goodbye Doyin. You came; you saw and conquered; Goodbye, Doyin; you served with dignity and honour; Goodbye, lady of virtue Rest in perfect peace. If death is avoidable, we could have met Jesus and Muhammad but lo, it is inevitable! From Allah we came and to him we shall all return.” He concluded.