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| Pa Fowler being escorted to his final resting place with the presence of several traditional staffs of office |
On Friday, December 11, the city of
Lagos was filled with the presence of top dignitaries including government
functionaries, politicians, business men, diplomats, academics and members of
the clergy as Babatunde Fowler, the
Chairman of the Nigeria Federal Inland Revenue (FIRS) gave his late father a
befitting funeral rite. Pa (Prof.) Wensley Vidal Mobolaji Fowler,
father of the Nigeria’s number 1 Internal Revenue Generation boss died on
Saturday November 21 and was buried 20 days later on December 11. The funeral
took place at All Saints Anglican Church, Montgomery
Road, Yaba- Lagos—South West Nigeria. Your Africa’s number 1 Celebrity
Encounter Blog, Asabeafrika gets you
faces from the event with the impeccable resume of the late great man. Enjoy!
Lagos was filled with the presence of top dignitaries including government
functionaries, politicians, business men, diplomats, academics and members of
the clergy as Babatunde Fowler, the
Chairman of the Nigeria Federal Inland Revenue (FIRS) gave his late father a
befitting funeral rite. Pa (Prof.) Wensley Vidal Mobolaji Fowler,
father of the Nigeria’s number 1 Internal Revenue Generation boss died on
Saturday November 21 and was buried 20 days later on December 11. The funeral
took place at All Saints Anglican Church, Montgomery
Road, Yaba- Lagos—South West Nigeria. Your Africa’s number 1 Celebrity
Encounter Blog, Asabeafrika gets you
faces from the event with the impeccable resume of the late great man. Enjoy!
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| Tunde Fowler in a tete-tete with his mum |
Untold Story of Pa Fowler
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The young Wensley Vidal Mobolaji Fowler was born
on the 4th of June, 1923 to Mr.
W.H. and Mrs. I.A. Fowler, both
of blessed memory. He received his early education in Nigeria and Sierra Leone.
In 1934 he was admitted into Igbobi College, Yaba, Lagos where he
was the youngest student under the late Reverend
J.A. Agnus, who was the Principal at
the time. Some of his classmates at the well known school included Dr. A.A. Lakeru, Dr. Farinde, late Dr.
Akintonde and late Justice J.A.
Adefarasin amongst others.
on the 4th of June, 1923 to Mr.
W.H. and Mrs. I.A. Fowler, both
of blessed memory. He received his early education in Nigeria and Sierra Leone.
In 1934 he was admitted into Igbobi College, Yaba, Lagos where he
was the youngest student under the late Reverend
J.A. Agnus, who was the Principal at
the time. Some of his classmates at the well known school included Dr. A.A. Lakeru, Dr. Farinde, late Dr.
Akintonde and late Justice J.A.
Adefarasin amongst others.
Professor Fowler excelled in the senior Cambridge
Examination in 1940 and thereafter worked for the Nigerian Railway Corporation for a brief period. In 1943, he
proceeded to Sherry’s College in Glasgow to study for the Entrance
Examination into Universities in Scotland. In 1945 he gained admission into the
University of Glasgow where he later
graduated with the Medical Degree of M.B.
Ch. B.
Examination in 1940 and thereafter worked for the Nigerian Railway Corporation for a brief period. In 1943, he
proceeded to Sherry’s College in Glasgow to study for the Entrance
Examination into Universities in Scotland. In 1945 he gained admission into the
University of Glasgow where he later
graduated with the Medical Degree of M.B.
Ch. B.
In 1952 he
started his practice of anesthesia whilst he was attached to late Mr. S.O. Awoliyi, a senior
surgical specialist at the General Hospital, Broad Street-Lagos.
started his practice of anesthesia whilst he was attached to late Mr. S.O. Awoliyi, a senior
surgical specialist at the General Hospital, Broad Street-Lagos.
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| Overwiew of Guests @ the Church Service for Pa Fowler |
Behold, Nigeria’s First Travel &
Living Professor
From 1953 to 1958 Professor Fowler was involved in various aspect of medical
practice, including field work. His active involvement in field work covered
eradicating yaws under the World Health
Organization (WHO) program for Africa. This necessitated his travel to
remote and barely accessible areas of the country in the discharge of his
duties. Apart from rural work, travel and living Professor Fowler was
also responsible for providing health care services in provincial hospitals,
where he performed surgical, obstetric and gynecological procedures.
practice, including field work. His active involvement in field work covered
eradicating yaws under the World Health
Organization (WHO) program for Africa. This necessitated his travel to
remote and barely accessible areas of the country in the discharge of his
duties. Apart from rural work, travel and living Professor Fowler was
also responsible for providing health care services in provincial hospitals,
where he performed surgical, obstetric and gynecological procedures.
In the
ensuing years of 1958 and 1959, Professor
Fowler pursued the practice of anesthesia as a specialization at Adeoyo Hospital in Ibadan. He was
granted a scholarship to the Royal
College of Surgeons, London by the former Western Region Government. He
obtained his DA (RCP & S) in 1962. During his course of postgraduate
studies in the United Kingdom, he was attached to Paddington General Hospital
and St. James Hospital, Westminster
as a clinical assistant. He subsequently attended the Hammersmith Postgraduate Medical School. After the successful
completion of his postgraduate studies, he returned home and was attached to Adeoyo Hospital, Ibadan as the only
Nigerian specialist in anesthesia in the Western Region and thereafter worked
at the University College Hospital,
also in Ibadan.
ensuing years of 1958 and 1959, Professor
Fowler pursued the practice of anesthesia as a specialization at Adeoyo Hospital in Ibadan. He was
granted a scholarship to the Royal
College of Surgeons, London by the former Western Region Government. He
obtained his DA (RCP & S) in 1962. During his course of postgraduate
studies in the United Kingdom, he was attached to Paddington General Hospital
and St. James Hospital, Westminster
as a clinical assistant. He subsequently attended the Hammersmith Postgraduate Medical School. After the successful
completion of his postgraduate studies, he returned home and was attached to Adeoyo Hospital, Ibadan as the only
Nigerian specialist in anesthesia in the Western Region and thereafter worked
at the University College Hospital,
also in Ibadan.
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| Wife of Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo |
In 1966, Professor Fowler was seconded to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital
where the department of anaesthesia
pioneered the establishment of the one year diploma course in anaesthesia. This was a creative and
innovative strategy, which immensely benefitted medical capacity building
effort in Lagos State, and was a ground breaker in most of Sub-Saharan Africa.
The program is now firmly established in Nigeria. Professor Fowler was also
instrumental in drawing up the syllabus, rules and regulations for the
Fellowship Diploma in anaesthesia when
the Post Graduate Course was established in 1970 at the Nigerian Postgraduate
Medical College. He was also involved in establishing the West African College
of Surgeon Diploma Programme in anaesthesia.
where the department of anaesthesia
pioneered the establishment of the one year diploma course in anaesthesia. This was a creative and
innovative strategy, which immensely benefitted medical capacity building
effort in Lagos State, and was a ground breaker in most of Sub-Saharan Africa.
The program is now firmly established in Nigeria. Professor Fowler was also
instrumental in drawing up the syllabus, rules and regulations for the
Fellowship Diploma in anaesthesia when
the Post Graduate Course was established in 1970 at the Nigerian Postgraduate
Medical College. He was also involved in establishing the West African College
of Surgeon Diploma Programme in anaesthesia.
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| Vice President Yemi Osinbajo & Wife Dolapo with APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu & Wife Senator Remi Tinubu |
Positions he held as Professor of
Anaesthesia
Professor Wensley Vidal Mobolaji Fowler at one
time held the following positions:
time held the following positions:
¨ Chairman Admission Committee, West
African College of Surgeon (1968-1976)
African College of Surgeon (1968-1976)
¨ Academic Adviser-College of Medicine,
University of Lagos.
University of Lagos.
¨ Chairman-Incidence Committee, Lagos
University Teaching Hospital
University Teaching Hospital
Pa Fowler was equally a member of several committees, including:
¨ Working Committee-Faculty of
Anaesthesia
Anaesthesia
¨ West Africa College of Surgeons
¨ Committee on National Formulary
¨ Membership Committee of the World
Federation of Societies of Anaestheologists.
Federation of Societies of Anaestheologists.
¨ Special Committee on Review of
Problems of University Admission
Problems of University Admission
¨ Expert Panel of Anaesthetist, West
African Health Secretariat.
African Health Secretariat.
¨ First Chairman and Chief Examiner in
Anaesthesia, National Postgraduate Medical College.
Anaesthesia, National Postgraduate Medical College.
¨ First Treasurer, Nigerian
Postgraduate Medical College.
Postgraduate Medical College.
¨ First Nigerian President, Society of
Anaesthetics of West Africa
Anaesthetics of West Africa
As an
erudite scholar, late Pa Fowler has published and given lectures on the
followings;
erudite scholar, late Pa Fowler has published and given lectures on the
followings;
¨ Fluid Therapy in the Post Operative
Period
Period
¨ Anaesthesia for War Casualties
¨ The Development of the Practice of
Anaesthesia in Nigeria.
Anaesthesia in Nigeria.
¨ The Anaesthetist’s Dilema in a
Developing Country.
Developing Country.
¨ Propanidid—A short Acting Intravenous
Anaesthetic Agent for Out-Anaesthesias in Intestinal Obstruction.
Anaesthetic Agent for Out-Anaesthesias in Intestinal Obstruction.
¨ Anaesthesias in Intestinal
Obstruction.
Obstruction.
¨ Intravenous Regional Anaesthesia.
¨ Anaesthetic Management for the
Surgical Treatment of Patients with Tumors.
Surgical Treatment of Patients with Tumors.
¨ Althesin Anaesthesia—Clinical Trial.
¨ Neorolept Anagesia—Clinical Trial,
¨ The Use of Better-Receptor Blockers
in the Management of a 14 Nigerian Girl with Thryrotosicois.
in the Management of a 14 Nigerian Girl with Thryrotosicois.
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| Veteran Photo Journalist Sunmi Smart Cole (R) with a guest |
His Other
Achievements:
Professor Wensley Vidal Mobolaji
Fowler retired
voluntarily from the Lagos University
Teaching Hospital in 1978, but continued to practice Anaesthesia in various
private institutions in the country. During his tenure at LUTH and even after his
retirement he was the anaesthetist Consultant to former Nigerian Heads of
State. Professor Fowler was married
to Chief (Dr.) Mrs. Leila Fowler
(Nee Moore) and the couple was blessed with four lovely children among which is
their famous son, Babatunde Fowler who is the head of the Nigerian Inland
Revenue Agency (FIRS) and many grand children.
Fowler retired
voluntarily from the Lagos University
Teaching Hospital in 1978, but continued to practice Anaesthesia in various
private institutions in the country. During his tenure at LUTH and even after his
retirement he was the anaesthetist Consultant to former Nigerian Heads of
State. Professor Fowler was married
to Chief (Dr.) Mrs. Leila Fowler
(Nee Moore) and the couple was blessed with four lovely children among which is
their famous son, Babatunde Fowler who is the head of the Nigerian Inland
Revenue Agency (FIRS) and many grand children.
Professor
Wensley Vidal Mobolaji Fowler (MBCHB, DAF, FARCS, FWACS, FMCA) was born on 4th
June 1923 and passed away on Saturday 21st of November, 2015.
Wensley Vidal Mobolaji Fowler (MBCHB, DAF, FARCS, FWACS, FMCA) was born on 4th
June 1923 and passed away on Saturday 21st of November, 2015.
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| Very Important Personalities @ Pa Fowler’s funeral |
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| Tunder Fowler, Mum & Siblings |
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| Tunde Fowler with Mum and a King’s traditional staff of Office |
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| Tunde Fowler arriving for the event |
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| Tunde Fowler & Mum welcomes an Important Personality to the event |
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| The Hearse that brought Pa Fowler’s body |
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| Some Very Important Guests at the Church Event |
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| Senator Oluremi Tinubu |
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| Senator Oluremi Tinubu & Daughter with a guest |
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| Representatives of Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu and Lagos White Cap Chief stood for Pa Fowler |
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| Representative of Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru greeting the Chief Mourner, Mr. Tunde Fowler |
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| Professor Yemi Osinbajo & Wife Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo |
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| Professor Philips |
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| Professor Elebute |
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| Professor Ade Elebute & Others @ Church |
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| Professor Ade Elebute & Guests |
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| Pools & Lotto Magnate Adebutu Kessington |
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| One of the beautiful Fowler’s daughters |
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| More Guests for late Pa Fowler |
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| Lovely Grand Daughters of the Late Pa Fowler |
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| General Ike Nwachukwu |
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| Former Lagos State Commissioner for Special Duties, Chief (Mrs.) Teju Philips (R) with a female guest |
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| Dr. Wale Babalakin with Dr. (Mrs.) Teju Philips |
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| Chief Mourner, Babatunde Fowler |
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| Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo with husband, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo |
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| Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu with Senator Oluremi Tinubu |
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| Another Couple at the event |
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| An Elderly Couple at the Event |
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| An Elder Professor @ the event |
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| A VIP Guest @ the event |
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| A seahead of Male & Female Guests @ Pa Fowler’s Funeral |
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| A Lagos based Couple @ Pa Fowler’s funeral |