From KNUST to Yale: Ghanaian veterinarian makes history at Yale School of the Environment

Dr Daniel Baba Abiliba has become the first Ghana-trained veterinarian to enrol at the Yale School of the Environment (YSE).

Dr Abiliba joined YSE’s Master of Environmental Management (MEM) programme in August 2026.

He is also the first Ghanaian to receive the MSD Animal Health/World Veterinary Association (WVA) Veterinary Student Scholarship.

“KNUST and its social environment gave me my foundation. Everything I bring to Yale, I learned first in Ghana, in our classrooms, on our farms and from our farmers,” Dr Abiliba remarked.

Milestones and key achievements

In 2018, while pursuing his studies at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Dr Abiliba received the MSD/WVA Veterinary Student Scholarship.

The international scholarship recognises veterinary students who demonstrate outstanding leadership and dedication to the profession.

“Receiving that scholarship reaffirmed that the work we are doing in Ghana has a place on the global stage. This inspired me to pursue greater ambitions, ultimately leading me to the Yale School of the Environment. It also instilled in me a sense of responsibility to pave the way for the next generation of students,” he said.

He obtained his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the KNUST School of Veterinary Medicine in 2022.

Veterinary science at the core of environmental sustainability

At Yale, Dr Abiliba is studying the intersection of food systems, public health and the environment.

His work draws on the One Health approach, which recognises that the health of people, animals and ecosystems is closely interconnected.

“How we raise animals affects the land, the water and our own health. Veterinarians have an important role to play in environmental decision-making, and I want to help bring that perspective into the rooms where decisions are made,” he said.

Before joining Yale, Dr Abiliba founded the Animal Welfare League (AWL), a non-profit organisation focused on improving farmed animal welfare in Ghana and across Africa.

Inspiring the next generation of veterinarians

Dr Abiliba hopes his journey will encourage Ghanaian veterinary students to explore broader career opportunities beyond traditional veterinary practice.

“Veterinary medicine is not only about treating sick animals, it is about food security, disease prevention, and protecting the environment we all depend on. The next generation of Ghanaian vets can lead in all of these spaces,” Dr Abiliba said.

He credits his family, particularly his parents, and his mentors at the KNUST School of Veterinary Medicine for supporting him throughout his journey.