Chief Mrs. Leila Euphemia Apinke Fowler, the revered Yeye Mofin of Lagos and founder of the prestigious Vivian Fowler Memorial College for Girls, has passed away at the age of 91.

Her death was confirmed on Saturday morning by Bashorun J.K. Randle, who described her as a trailblazer whose impact spanned education, law, health, and public service.

Born on March 23, 1933, in Lagos, Chief Fowler (née Moore) lived a life of resilience and excellence. She began her early education at CMS Girls’ School, Lagos, and later attended Queen of the Rosary College, Onitsha, earning her Senior Cambridge Certificate in 1951.

Though she started her career as a teacher, she soon pursued nursing at the renowned St Thomas’ Hospital in London. Never one to be confined by limits, she later studied law at Middle Temple, London, and was called to the English Bar in 1962. She returned to Nigeria in 1963 and was admitted to the Nigerian Bar the same year.

Her career flourished as she specialised in insurance law and consultancy, first with established chambers before running her own practice. She also served as a councillor in the Lagos City Council (1978–1980) and actively contributed to the Nigerian Bar Association, the Nigerian Red Cross, and the Corona Schools Trust Council.

Perhaps her most enduring legacy is the founding of the Vivian Fowler Memorial College for Girls in 1991, established in memory of her late daughter. Over the years, the school has become one of Nigeria’s leading all-girls institutions, celebrated for academic excellence and leadership development.

In recognition of her contributions, she was honoured with the chieftaincy title of Yeye Mofin of Lagos by Oba Adeyinka Oyekan II.

Remembered as a “silent achiever,” Chief Leila Fowler’s life was a tapestry of service, courage, and commitment to nation-building. Her legacy lives on through the thousands of lives she touched and the institutions she built.