Professor Ayodeji (Deji) Femi-Pearse was born in Lagos on September 18,1932. He was the first child of Dr Jamieson Townsend Femi-Pearse and Mrs Elsie Omolara Femi-Pearse (nee Savage); and the first grandson of Canon James Pearse and Mrs Caroline Olayinka Pearse (nee Cole) of the St. Jude’s Church Ebute-Metta fame.