The founder of Essence International School Kaduna, Mrs. Dolores Lami Mohammed, MFR, has died at the age of 80. She passed away on February 13, 2026, in Philadelphia, United States.
Born Dolores Wilson on November 7, 1945, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, she obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from West Chester University in 1967. She relocated to Nigeria in 1970 and devoted nearly 45 years to advancing educational development.
In 1982, she established Essence International School in Kaduna, transforming it into one of the state’s leading private institutions.
Under her leadership, the school expanded from a nursery programme to a full pre-kindergarten through secondary institution, serving over 1,000 students and employing more than 200 staff. She was widely recognised for introducing modern teaching methods and classroom technology.
Before founding Essence, Mrs. Mohammed served as Curriculum Supervisor at the Lebanese Community School in Lagos between 1977 and 1982. She also worked as an educational consultant in Philadelphia, where she helped develop early childhood education programmes.
Through the Open Classroom, the non-profit arm of the school, she initiated literacy campaigns, feeding programmes, teacher training and school rehabilitation projects that benefited underserved communities in Kaduna and beyond.
Her outreach extended to Kenya, Lesotho, Niger Republic, Brazil and the United States.
In recognition of her contributions, she received the Chevalier des Palmes Académiques from the French Government in 1995 and Nigeria’s national honour of Member of the Federal Republic (MFR) in 2001.
Mrs. Mohammed remained active in school leadership after returning to Philadelphia in 2014, continuing to serve as Principal of Essence International School.
She was predeceased by her husband, Brigadier General Abubakar Garba Mohammed (Rtd.), Emir of Lere, and is survived by her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, her brother and extended family. Funeral arrangements will be announced by the family.
Sani Lere
