The Yeye Mofin of Lagos and founder of the renowned Vivian Fowler Memorial College for Girls, Chief Leila Euphemia Apinke Fowler, has reportedly died.
Naijaonpoint reports that the Nigerian education icon passed away at the age of 91.
Her death was confirmed in a statement issued by Bashorun J.K. Randle, who described her as a woman of resilience and quiet but profound achievements.
Born on March 23, 1933, in Lagos, Chief Fowler (née Moore) received her early education at CMS Girls’ School, Lagos, before proceeding to Queen of the Rosary College, Onitsha, where she obtained her Senior Cambridge Certificate in 1951.
Her career began in teaching, but she later moved to London, where she trained as a nurse at the prestigious St Thomas’ Hospital.
Not content with that alone, she went on to study law at Middle Temple and was called to the English Bar in 1962. On her return to Nigeria the following year, she was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1963.
Fowler built a thriving career in law, practising in established chambers before founding her own firm, where she specialised in insurance law and consultancy.
Her commitment to service extended beyond the courtroom. She served as a councillor in the Lagos City Council between 1978 and 1980 and played active roles in organisations such as the Nigerian Bar Association, the Nigerian Red Cross, and the Corona Schools Trust Council.
In 1991, she established the Vivian Fowler Memorial College for Girls in honour of her late daughter.
Naijaonpoint reports that over the years, the school has grown into one of Nigeria’s leading all-girls institutions, noted for academic excellence and its dedication to raising future female leaders.
In recognition of her contributions to education and public life, Chief Fowler was conferred with the prestigious chieftaincy title of Yeye Mofin of Lagos by Oba Adeyinka Oyekan II.
She was widely celebrated as a “silent achiever,” whose impact spanned nursing, law, politics, and education.
Chief Leila Fowler’s life embodied resilience, ambition, and service.
Through her work and values, she inspired generations and left behind a legacy that will endure in the institutions she built and the lives she touched.
© 2025 Naijaonpoint, a division of NOP Media Inc. Contact us via [email protected]