Lagos has lost one of its most celebrated matriarchs as Chief Mrs. Leila Euphemia Apinke Fowler, the revered Yeye Mofin of Lagos and founder of the prestigious Vivian Fowler Memorial College for Girls, passed away on Saturday at the age of 91. Her death was confirmed by Bashorun J.K. Randle, who described her as a “silent achiever whose legacy will echo through generations.”
Born on March 23, 1933, into the illustrious Moore family of Lagos, Fowler’s life was a remarkable tapestry woven with education, public service, law, and philanthropy. After attending CMS Girls’ School, Lagos, and Queen of the Rosary College, Onitsha, she obtained her Senior Cambridge Certificate in 1951. From the start, she embodied resilience and excellence.
Her journey abroad saw her train as a nurse at St Thomas’ Hospital, London, before pivoting to law. Called to the English Bar at Middle Temple in 1962 and the Nigerian Bar in 1963, she carved a niche as a leading insurance law specialist, working both in established chambers and her own private practice.
Her influence extended beyond the courtroom. Between 1978 and 1980, she served as a councillor in the Lagos City Council, advocating for social welfare and education. She also played significant roles in the Nigerian Bar Association, the Nigerian Red Cross, and the Corona Schools Trust Council, cementing her place as a woman of substance who contributed to both civic life and humanitarian causes.
In 1991, tragedy gave rise to transformation when she established the Vivian Fowler Memorial College for Girls in memory of her late daughter. The school has since blossomed into one of Nigeria’s foremost all-girls institutions, producing trailblazers across fields and setting a gold standard for female education in Africa.
Her commitment to culture and identity was formally recognized when Oba Adeyinka Oyekan II conferred upon her the title of Yeye Mofin of Lagos, an honour that reflected both her heritage and her service to the community. Known for her elegance, humility, and foresight, she epitomized the values of Lagos aristocracy while remaining accessible to ordinary citizens.
Chief Fowler’s passing has triggered an outpouring of tributes from across Nigeria’s legal, educational, and cultural circles. She is remembered not just as a lawyer or educator, but as a builder of legacies—someone who transformed grief into vision, challenges into milestones, and service into a lifelong creed.
