The only child of Azariah Olusegun Ransome-Kuti who was appointed Chief Pharmacist for the Federation of Nigeria in 1956 until retirement from federal Medical Service. In 1951, He was appointed Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire 1951 (MBE) by King George VI. She is also the granddaughter of the Late Rev. Canon Josiah Jessey Ransome-Kuti. Her aunt Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, was a foremost feminist in Nigeria as well as the first woman in Nigeria to drive a car. She was also part of the delegation to negotiate independence for the country from the British.
Yemisi Ransome-Kuti is also cousin to Fela Kuti, Olikoye Kuti, Beko Ransome-Kuti and Wole Soyinka, the first African to win a Nobel prize, whose mother was a Ransome-Kuti. She has 4 children. Segun Bucknor by her first husband, the Late Naval Capt Frederick Oluwole Bucknor and 3 by her second husband Dr Kunle Soyemi - Bola Soyemi, Seun Soyemi and Eniola Soyemi.
With Fela Kuti, Beko Kuti and Koye Kuti all died, Yemisi is now the head of the Ransome-Kuti family.
Yemisi Ransome-Kuti is the recently retired chairman and founder of the Nigerian Network of Non-Governmental Organizations (NNNGO). The first organization of its kind in Nigeria to bring together civil society organization, it has worked since its formation 1992 to effect a harmonized agenda for third sector development and its influence in the national framework.
In the early 1990s, Ms Ransome-Kuti established 'Girl Watch'; an organization aimed at educating young Nigerian girls from poor backgrounds. In 2006, Yemisi Ransome-Kuti was appointed a Civil Society advisor to the World Bank. Ms Ransome-Kuti has been one of those leading the charge in working for Nigeria to meet its Millennium development Goals and eradicate poverty.
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