Jane Goodhall: Lilly Ajarova Pays Glowing Tribute to Mentor
Following the passing of Dr. Jane Goodall (DBE), world-renowned ethologist, conservationist, humanitarian, Founder of the Jane Goodall Institute, and UN Messenger of Peace who died on 1 October 2025 at the age of 91 of natural causes, the former CEO of Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), Dr. Lilly Ajarova has paid a glowing tribute to the legend.
In a post she made on X, Dr. Ajarova who is presently in Nairobi attending the Magical Kenya Travel Expo, she wrote of her mentor;
“Today, we bid farewell to Dr. Jane Goodall – a true legend, mentor and friend. To many she was a pioneering scientist, a tireless conservationist and a global voice for hope. To me she was also a mentor, an inspiration and a guiding light in my own journey. I had the rare privilege of working closely with Dr. Goodall through the Jane Goodall Institute and the Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary, which she helped to establish in Uganda.
“Her vision and passion made it possible for us to give a safe home to rescued chimpanzees and her wisdom reminded us that true conservation is not only about protecting wildlife, but also about uplifting communities and inspiring future generations. Jane taught us that compassion and action must go hand in hand. Her humility, even as one of the most celebrated figures of our time, was a lesson in itself.
“She believed deeply in the power of every individual to make a difference and she lived that belief every day of her life. Jane taught us that every voice matters, every action counts and that protecting our planet is both an obligation and a gift. As Uganda’s conservation family and the global community she touched, we will carry forward her legacy. We will continue to speak for the voiceless, to protect nature and to nurture the roots and shoots she planted in all of us.
As we mourn her passing, I am comforted knowing that her legacy will continue in every forest, every sanctuary and every heart that chooses to care. Rest peacefully, Jane. You showed us the way, it is now us to continue the journey.” Dr. Ajarova concluded.
The eldest daughter of businessman and racing car driver Mortimer Herbert Morris-Goodall and writer Margaret Myfanwe Joseph, she was born Valerie Jane Morris-Goodall. Known around the world for her 65-year study of wild chimpanzees in Gombe, Tanzania, Dr. Goodhall in the latter part of her life expanded her focus and became a global advocate for human rights, animal welfare, species and environmental protection, and many other crucial issues.
