News
Doyin Abiola, First Female Daily Editor in Nigeria, Dies at 82
Dr. Doyin Abiola, a pioneering Nigerian journalist and former Managing Director and Editor‑in‑Chief of National Concord, has died at the age of 82. She passed away peacefully at 9:15 p.m. on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, after a brief illness, according to family.
Born Doyinsola Hamidat Abiola in 1943, her journalism career began at the Daily Sketch in 1969, where she wrote a widely followed column titled Tiro, addressing social and gender-related issues. In 1970, she traveled to the United States to pursue postgraduate studies, earning a Master’s in Journalism and later a Ph.D. in Communications and Political Science from New York University in 1979.
Upon returning to Nigeria, she joined Daily Times as a Features Writer and rose to become Group Features Editor, later serving on its editorial board alongside renowned journalists like Dele Giwa, Stanley Macebuh, and Amma Ogan .
She was then appointed the pioneer daily editor of National Concord in 1980, and in 1986 she made history as the first Nigerian woman to hold the top editorial role—Managing Director and Editor‑in‑Chief—of a national newspaper.
Dr. Abiola married Chief MKO Abiola in 1981 and remained a steadfast partner through his political struggles following the annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election. Under her leadership, the Concord Group grew to publish up to 14 newspapers and magazines, becoming a powerhouse in Nigerian media despite facing government bans during military rule.
She extended her influence beyond journalism by heading the nomination panel for the first Nigerian Media Merit Awards and serving on the advisory council of Ogun State University’s Faculty of Social and Management Sciences.
Honours included the prestigious Eisenhower Fellowship (1986) and the Diamond Awards for Media Excellence Lifetime Achievement Award, making her the second woman ever to receive that accolade.
Tributes have poured in, with Daily Times describing her as a consummate journalist, advocate for social justice, and a champion of women’s rights, whose legacy provided a path for many young journalists—especially women—to follow.
Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced by the family in the coming days.
Dr. Doyin Abiola’s life and career stood at the intersection of media excellence, gender advocacy, and democratic activism. Her fearless dedication and impact on Nigerian journalism will be remembered for generations to come.
News
Vardy Reveals Former Teammates, Ndidi And Iheanacho Use Juju Cream
Former Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy has shared an amusing anecdote about the unique injury treatment preferred by his Nigerian ex-teammates, Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi.
Iheanacho and Ndidi became integral members of the Foxes squad after joining in 2017, playing a crucial role in the club’s historic 2021 FA Cup victory.
The duo shared a strong bond with Vardy during their time at the King Power Stadium, often engaging in light-hearted banter with their teammates.
Vardy, a Leicester City legend after 13 years with the club, departed last summer for Serie A side Cremonese. Iheanacho and Ndidi have also since moved on from the Foxes.
Speaking on a recent podcast, Vardy recounted how the Super Eagles stars had a peculiar remedy for minor injuries.
He explained that Iheanacho and Ndidi would insist on using a special “juju cream” brought back from Nigeria, refusing any other oils or balms offered by the club’s medical staff.
“They used to get injured, just little knocks, then they’d go back to Nigeria for one day literally, come back, and then they’ve got a nice big tub of juju cream,” Vardy said.
“That was the only thing that the masseuses were allowed to massage on the injured areas. They used to tell us that they used to get it from a Nigerian witch doctor.”
While Vardy’s story adds a humorous, if slightly controversial, layer to the players’ time at the club, the “juju cream” was likely part of a running joke.
Ndidi later clarified on social media that the substance was simply local shea butter, known as ‘ori’ in Nigeria.
News
Ondo Gov’s Loyalists Drag APC To Court Over NASS Primary Results
Some aspirants loyal to Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who failed to secure the All Progressives Congress (APC) tickets in the recently concluded National Assembly primaries, have approached the court to challenge the outcome of the exercise.
The aggrieved aspirants are challenging the APC National Working Committee (NWC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the results of the primaries and the list of candidates submitted by the party to the electoral body.
Report quoted sources within the party as saying the aspirants decided to seek judicial redress after expressing dissatisfaction with the outcome of the primaries.
The aspirants have reportedly engaged the services of the law firm of Remi Olatubora, SAN, to challenge the outcome of the exercise, the report also mentioned.
Those involved include Gbenga Elegbeleye (Ondo North Senatorial District), Dr Taiwo Fasoranti (Ondo Central Senatorial District), Leke Akingboye (Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency), Rasaq Obe (Idanre/Ifedore Federal Constituency), Kayode Ijalana (Owo/Ose Federal Constituency), Oyerinmade Matthew (Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo/Odigbo Federal Constituency), and Olumuyiwa Daramola (Okitipupa/Irele Federal Constituency).
The legal action has reportedly generated concerns among some party stakeholders, who fear it could affect the APC’s preparations ahead of the 2027 general elections.
News
Falana Declares FG’s House Gifts To Judges Illegal
Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has slammed the Federal Government over its gifts of houses to judges.
Speaking at the Housing TV Africa on Thursday, Falana demanded the provision of the law that stipulated such a gesture.
He charged the Federal Government to also build houses for university professors and other civil and public servants, noting that what is good for the goose is equally good for the gander.
“”We have got to a stage in the country where we have to challenge the special privileges given to the rich and top public officers in the country.
“I was very sad when I saw that the Federal Government was handing over the keys of houses to judges, and I asked myself, ‘Under what law are we operating?’ Because it’s discriminatory and illegal.
“You treat everyone equally in our country. So you can’t take out judges. Judges are entitled to accommodation by the way. They must live comfortably and we’ll secured.
“But, other citizens must be equally provided for. If you don’t do it, you can be challenged, and that is going to happen very soon because what is good for the goose is good for the gander,” he said.
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