• Born Abiodun Doherty at General Hospital in Akure at 12 midnight December 25 1944 to Prince Adesoji Adegbaju-Doherty of Akeran Compound, Ilare, Ile-Ife and Princess Omidoyin Doherty of Lujumo Compound, Eyindi, Ile-Ife.
• Attended Salvation Army Primary Schools in Akure and Lagos and proceeded to Igbobi College, Lagos in 1958 in Oluwole House and graduated in 1962 where he was the School’s football team’s goalkeeper.
• Upon graduation enlisted with the Nigerian Airforce and went on to undertake Pilot Training Course in Uttersen, Germany.
• Before the Civil War in Nigeria, he enlisted in the Army and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant.
• He served in various frontline positions during the Civil War fighting alongside Generals Adekunle and Obasanjo. He attended the Command and Staff College Jaji as a member of the first set alongside General Tajudeen Olanrewaju and thereafter held various command positions such as Brigade Major, 9 Infantry Division, Lafenwa, Abeokuta; Commanding Officer 181 Mechanised Division Bida; Col AQ, 3rd Armoured Division Jos with General Mohammed Buhari as his GOC, and in Army Head Quarters Bonny Camp when he retired in 1985 after attending The War College in Indianapolis where he was given the key to Indianapolis as recognition for excelling in his course.
• He subsequently joined Nigerian Ports Authority when he was appointed Military Port Commandant- Calabar Port during the Babangida regime. He also served as Military Port Commandant- Tin Can Island Port & Port Manager, Container Terminal Ijora. He moved to NPA’s Headquarters as Deputy Operations Manager, Operations Manager and then became Executive Director in Charge of Eastern Zone before returning to Western Zone in same capacity. He went on to serve as Acting Managing Director Nigerian Ports Authority until his retirement in December 1995.
• Upon his retirement he went into private business and maritime management consultancy until his demise on 31st October 2016 after a brief illness.
• He is survived by his Wife – Chief Mrs Obiageli Okwesa-Doherty, Children – Mrs Funmilayo Doherty-Akinyele, Babasoji Doherty, Adefisan Doherty, Adejare Doherty, Adedunni Doherty (Deceased) and Adereti Doherty as well as 4 Grand Children – Adewalie Akinyele, Yvonne Akinyele, Adekorede Doherty and Adebola Doherty.
The funeral arrangements are as follows:
Wednesday 22nd February – Service of Songs at his residence 6 Barrack Road, Apapa-Lagos (5pm)
Thursday 23rd February – Commendation Service – Cathedral Church of Christ,Marina-Lagos (9am) with onward procession to Ile-Ife.
Wake keeping at his residence off Ooni Layout, by DAMICO Educational Institute, KM 2, Ede Road Ile-Ife (6.30pm)
Friday 24th February – Funeral service at St Paul’s Cathedral, Aiyegbaju, Ile-Ife (10am)
Reception follows at Gity Event Centre 74 Ife-Ibadan Expressway.
