By Nkechi Eze
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC)/Transparency International in Nigeria (TI-Nigeria) has joined the rest of the world in mourning the death of Dame Jane Goodall, the globally renowned primatologist and conservationist, describing her as a transformative leader whose work redefined humanity’s understanding of the natural world.
In an official statement signed by its Executive Director, Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani), CISLAC/TI-Nigeria paid glowing tribute to Goodall, recalling her pioneering research observing wild chimpanzees which challenged the dominant belief of the time that humans alone were toolmakers. Her discoveries, according to the organisation, proved that other species were capable of using and developing tools, thereby reshaping scientific thought.
“Over a 65-year career, her research taught us how similar chimpanzees are to humans, observing their complex social dynamics. Just like humans, they can be both peaceful and compassionate, as well as violent and cruel. Her research helped to dismantle the idea of human exceptionalism and raised our collective understanding of how we belong to and rely upon the natural world,” Rafsanjani stated.
The organisation noted that beyond her scientific achievements, Goodall remained a committed advocate, constantly using her platform to raise global awareness on the impacts of human population growth on the environment. She published several memoirs and spent much of her life travelling as a lecturer to promote conservation and climate action.
CISLAC/TI-Nigeria further highlighted Goodall’s remarkable honours, honorary membership of the World Future Council, and her service on the board of the Non-human Rights Project from 2022 until her death. She was also a laureate of the Kyoto Prize and the Templeton Prize, and in 2025 was awarded the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom.
“As we bid farewell to Goodall as one of the brightest minds in population science, we honor not only her groundbreaking contributions to the field but also her unwavering commitment to understanding human population growth on the environment. Without doubt, her work will in generations to come reshape how we see the world, its people, patterns, and possibilities, while her legacy will endure through the countless lives it touched, the policies informed, and the students inspired,” Rafsanjani added.
Goodall, who dedicated her life to wildlife conservation, population science, and the interconnection of human and natural ecosystems, is remembered by CISLAC/TI-Nigeria as a timeless source of inspiration whose voice and vision will continue to guide global environmental action.
