Saheed Ahmed, a final-year Veterinary Medicine student at the University of Ibadan, has been named the Best Veterinary Student in the World by the World Veterinary Association (WVA), an international body representing over 80 veterinary associations globally.
Ahmed explained the significance of his esteemed honour, which included a €5,000 cash reward, a fully-funded travel to Washington, D.C., for the 2025 World Veterinary Congress, and worldwide recognition for both his institution and himself, in an exclusive interview with Legit.ng.
The prize was given out after a very tough application procedure that required evidence of community service, leadership skills, research involvement, and academic success. Ahmed’s exceptional record stood out to the WVA panel among the motivational letters, recommendation letters, resumes, and published studies that the applicants provided.
According to Ahmed, “this process was a reflective one.” “It made me realise how far I’ve come; even without acknowledgement, it was satisfying to go over my journey again.”
Ahmed underlined that although the financial advantages and travel opportunities were nice, the real prize was being acknowledged for his commitment to leadership, public health, and veterinary science. He believes that additional kids in Nigeria and throughout Africa will be motivated by the award.
He declared, “It’s not just my victory; it’s a victory for the University of Ibadan and the Nigerian veterinary profession.” “It highlights the calibre of instruction provided here and raises awareness for upcoming scholars.”
From class representative to faculty president and then National President of the International Veterinary Students’ Association (Nigeria), Ahmed has consistently served in leadership roles. His achievements included initiating national health campaigns, leading cross-disciplinary collaborations, and garnering grants for public health and animal welfare advocacy.
He emphasised that juggling these tasks with the hard Veterinary Medicine program wasn’t easy:
“Managing both academic rigour and national advocacy work taught me time management, resilience, and the power of staying focused on purpose.”
Ahmed’s path into veterinary practice began after finishing top of his class from the College of Animal Health in Ibadan. Motivated by a cousin who was a veterinarian and determined to exceed expectations, he pursued a veterinary degree to merge his passion for science and service.
“People doubted I could handle the rigour, and that doubt became fuel,” he remarked. “I wanted to demonstrate that I could contribute in the field in addition to surviving the training.”
Ahmed attributed his success to his faith and self-belief, as well as his strong support system, which included friends, family, mentors, and lecturers. In the future, he intends to concentrate on antibiotic resistance, One Health, global health, and creating mentorship programs to assist young professionals, particularly in Africa.
“My goal is to support global policy, public health research, and advocacy initiatives that address issues related to human, animal, and environmental health,” he said.
Ahmed joins a new generation of African changemakers influencing worldwide discussions in science and health, adding to the University of Ibadan’s illustrious history of excellence.
CREDIT: ALLSCHOOL, Allschoolabs
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