A Legacy of Excellence: The Life and Career of Funso Doherty

Childhood and Education
Funso was born in Lagos on 16 June 1968. His father, the late Dr. Henry Aderounmu Aremu Doherty, a medical practitioner, was also born in Lagos in 1900 to “Oga” Josiah Henryson Doherty (familiarly known as “the prince merchant of Alakoro”). His paternal grandmother, Germana, hailed from the Reis family. Funso’s mother, Gladys Urunowonekawo Kirstein, now in her nineties, was born in 1931 to an Itsekiri mother, Mary Kponuko Eyesan, and a German father.

Funso was raised in the Yaba district of Lagos on Wakeman Street (now Borno Way). His father owned and ran a private medical practice on Aje Street, following a career as a medical officer that began during the colonial era, which he joined after completing medical school in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1926. His mother retired from the then National Electric Power Authority after successfully completing 35 years in the civil service.

Funso attended Corona School Victoria Island, Lagos, where he was appointed and served as Head Boy, completing his primary education in 1979. He was admitted into King’s College Lagos, which was also his father’s alma mater (Dr. Henry Doherty completed his studies at King’s College in 1918). While at KC, Funso was a Federal Government Academic Scholar and received the school’s Service to College Life award for being elected by his peers to serve as Form Captain for four consecutive terms of office.

After KC, Funso began undergraduate studies at the University of Lagos, where he studied Accounting, graduating with Second Class Upper Division Honours in 1990. While at Unilag, he was a member of the well-known ABC Club and was eventually elected by his peers as Chief of the club.