Yeye Mofin of Lagos and founder of the prestigious Vivian Fowler Memorial College for Girls, Chief (Mrs.) Leila Fowler, has passed away.
Her death was announced on Sunday by the management of the school, which she established in 1991 in memory of her late daughter.
“With profound sorrow, we announce the passing of our beloved founder, Chief (Mrs.) Leila Fowler, on Saturday, September 6, 2025. Chief Fowler was a trailblazer, a brilliant lawyer, and an extraordinary educationist who touched countless lives through her vision,” the statement read in part.
Born in Lagos on March 23, 1933, Fowler (née Moore) received her early education at CMS Girls’ School, Lagos, and Queen of the Rosary College, Onitsha, where she earned her Senior Cambridge Certificate in 1951.
She began her career as a teacher before training as a nurse at St. Thomas’ Hospital, London.
Her intellectual pursuits later took her to Middle Temple, where she was called to the English Bar in 1962 and subsequently to the Nigerian Bar in 1963.
She went on to build a distinguished legal career in insurance law and consultancy, while also engaging in public service. Between 1978 and 1980, she served as a councillor with the Lagos City Council.
Fowler was equally active in professional and civic organisations, including the Nigerian Bar Association, the Nigerian Red Cross, and the Corona Schools Trust Council.
Her deep passion for learning and women’s empowerment led her to establish Vivian Fowler Memorial College for Girls, which has grown into one of Nigeria’s foremost all-girls institutions, celebrated for its academic rigour and commitment to developing future leaders.
Chief Fowler lost her husband, Professor Vidal Fowler, a renowned surgeon and academic, in 2015. In recognition of her outstanding contributions, she was conferred with the title of Yeye Mofin of Lagos by the late Oba Adeyinka Oyekan II.
The school, in its tribute, described her as “a devout Christian, philanthropist, music lover, and mentor whose motherly care nurtured a generation of women.” It added: “Her legacy of service, faith, and dedication will forever remain a beacon of inspiration.”