Widow of late investigative broadcaster Kola Olawuyi dies after a brief illness, leaving behind four children and a family mourning another profound loss

Abimbola Olawuyi, widow of late investigative broadcaster Kola Olawuyi, has died after a brief illness, nearly 19 years after the passing of her husband, whose pioneering work helped redefine investigative journalism in Southwest Nigeria.

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Abimbola died on Monday morning, according to a member of the Olawuyi family who confirmed the development, saying she passed away peacefully after a short illness.

Her death marks another painful chapter for a family that has lived with the loss of one of Nigeria’s most respected media figures since Kola Olawuyi died in 2007.

A family member, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described Abimbola as the steadfast figure who kept the family together following her husband’s death.

“Abimbola has been a pillar of strength for the family. Her death is really painful.

She has been taking care of the family and the four children left by her husband, Kola Olawuyi, and now the children are orphans. Only God knows what lies ahead for them. I am deeply pained,” the family member said.

According to the source, Abimbola devoted much of the past two decades to raising the couple’s four children, choosing a quiet life away from public attention while preserving the family’s unity through years of personal sacrifice.

Relatives said her resilience and unwavering commitment enabled the family to navigate the difficult years that followed the loss of the veteran broadcaster.

Kola Olawuyi remains widely recognised as one of the pioneers of investigative broadcasting in Southwest Nigeria.

Through his acclaimed radio and television programmes, Iriri Aye and Nnkan Nbe, he brought crime, ritual killings, fraud and other social issues into public focus, using investigative storytelling to demand justice and accountability.

His fearless reporting earned widespread respect across the broadcasting industry and established him as one of the region’s most influential journalists during his career.

Although Abimbola largely remained outside the public spotlight after her husband’s death, family members said she quietly carried the responsibilities of parenting and safeguarding the legacy he left behind.

They described her as a devoted mother whose remarkable strength and compassion sustained the household despite the enormous challenges that followed the family’s earlier bereavement.

The deaths of Kola and now Abimbola leave their four children without either parent, a reality that has deepened the grief among relatives, friends and well-wishers.

The family said funeral and burial arrangements will be announced in due course.

Abimbola Olawuyi Dies at a time when many in Nigeria’s media community continue to celebrate Kola Olawuyi’s enduring contribution to investigative journalism.

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Her passing has prompted renewed reflection on the family’s resilience and the lasting legacy of one of the country’s most respected broadcasting households.