Dr. Olubunmi Afonja is the daughter of Dr. Lateef Emiola (from Alafara Olubadan) and Mrs. Otolola Emiola (nee Alabi) (from Isale Ijebu), she spent most of her childhood and early adulthood in Ibadan. She started elementary school at Sacred Heart Primary School, Ring Road Ibadan and completed this at the Staff School, University of Ibadan. She then attended International School, University but had to leave to complete secondary school at Government Girls’ College Maiduguri when her father accepted faculty position at the Ramat Polytechnic in Maiduguri. She completed a year of advanced level courses at the Polytechnic Ibadan before proceeding to the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan where received her undergraduate degree in Medicine and Surgery (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (M.B.B.S., equivalent to MD). Following a year of rotating internship at the University College Hospital (UCH), she came to the USA to pursue postgraduate degree.