Vivian Fowler Memorial College Founder, Leila Fowler, dies at 92

Chief (Mrs.) Leila Fowler, the Yeye Mofin of Lagos and founder of the prestigious Vivian Fowler Memorial College for Girls, has passed away.

Her death was confirmed on Sunday in a statement by the school, which she established in 1991 in memory of her late daughter.

“It’s with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our beloved founder, Chief (Mrs.) Leila Fowler, on Saturday, September 6, 2025,” the statement read, describing her as “a true pioneer, an erudite lawyer, and a visionary educationalist.”

Born in Lagos on March 23, 1933, Fowler (née Moore) attended CMS Girls’ School, Lagos, and Queen of the Rosary College, Onitsha, where she obtained her Senior Cambridge Certificate in 1951.

She trained as a teacher and later as a nurse at St Thomas’ Hospital, London, before studying law at Middle Temple, where she was called to the Bar in 1962, returning to Nigeria to be called to the Nigerian Bar in 1963.

Fowler specialised in insurance law and consultancy, contributing significantly to public service as a councillor in the Lagos City Council between 1978 and 1980, and actively participating in the Nigerian Bar Association, Nigerian Red Cross, and Corona Schools Trust Council.

Her passion for empowering women through education led to the founding of Vivian Fowler Memorial College for Girls, now one of Nigeria’s most respected all-girls schools.

She was honoured with the chieftaincy title of Yeye Mofin of Lagos by Oba Adeyinka Oyekan II in recognition of her contributions to education and society.

Widowed in 2015 following the death of her husband, Professor Vidal Fowler, she was remembered by the school as “a devout Christian, lover of music, philanthropist, and mentor,” whose “legacy of service, faith, and dedication will continue to inspire generations.”