Founder of Vivian Fowler Memorial College for Girls, Leila Fowler, Passes Away

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

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

“It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved founder, Chief (Mrs.) Leila Fowler, on Saturday, September 6, 2025. She was a pioneer, an accomplished lawyer, and a visionary educationist whose life was dedicated to empowering young women through education,” the statement read.

Born in Lagos on March 23, 1933, Fowler (née Moore) attended CMS Girls’ School, Lagos, and later Queen of the Rosary College, Onitsha, where she earned her Senior Cambridge Certificate in 1951. She began her career in teaching before training as a nurse at St Thomas’ Hospital in London. She later studied law at Middle Temple and was called to the Bar in 1962. She returned to Nigeria the following year, where she was also called to the Nigerian Bar.

Fowler went on to specialise in insurance law and consultancy while also contributing to public life. She served as a councillor at the Lagos City Council between 1978 and 1980 and played active roles in the Nigerian Bar Association, the Nigerian Red Cross, and the Corona Schools Trust Council.

In 1991, her passion for education inspired her to found Vivian Fowler Memorial College for Girls, which has since grown into one of Nigeria’s foremost all-girls schools, celebrated for academic excellence and leadership development.

Fowler, who was widowed in 2015 after the passing of her husband, Professor Vidal Fowler, 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.

Described as a devout Christian, philanthropist, mentor, and lover of music, Fowler is remembered by her school community as “a guiding light whose legacy of service, faith, and dedication will continue to inspire generations.”