By Esther Onyegbula

A nationwide campaign aimed at mobilising Nigerian students in the fight against malaria has commenced with the opening of registration for the Geneith Health Competition, a health-focused initiative designed to transform secondary school and tertiary institution students into advocates for malaria prevention and elimination.

The competition, organised by CEOAFRICA, sponsored by Geneith Pharmaceutical Limited and powered by Coatal Forte Softgel in partnership with the Department of Public Health of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, seeks to engage young Nigerians in a grassroots-driven effort to support the country’s malaria elimination agenda.

Announcing the commencement of registration, the Initiator of the competition and Managing Director of CEOAFRICA, Prince Cletus Sunday Iloabanafor, described the programme as a landmark intervention that places young people at the centre of Nigeria’s public health response to malaria.

According to him, the initiative goes beyond conventional awareness campaigns and is designed to inspire collective action among students, educational institutions and communities nationwide.

“The Geneith Health Competition is not merely another awareness campaign but a national call to action that places young people at the center of the fight against one of the country’s most devastating diseases,” he said.

Prince Iloabanafor urged Nigerians to draw inspiration from countries that have successfully eliminated malaria through coordinated public health policies and active citizen participation.

“Other nations have stood where we are standing today, took decisive collective action, and successfully eliminated this disease through deliberate public health policies,” he stated.
“Nigeria is the Giant of Africa and the natural leader of this continent. If other nations could achieve this feat, Nigerians can do even better and establish a new benchmark for Africa.”

The organisers said the competition has already generated interest among students across the country, many of whom view it as an opportunity to contribute to national development while acquiring leadership and health advocacy skills.
Speaking on the significance of the initiative, Adams described the competition as a platform capable of producing a new generation of public health champions.

“This is more than a malaria awareness initiative,” Adams said. “It is a life-saving mission that empowers students to become active participants in protecting their communities. By equipping young people with the right knowledge and tools, this competition is turning an entire generation from passive victims of a public health challenge into frontline champions of change.”
Stakeholders in the health sector have also welcomed the programme, describing it as a timely intervention that could help translate awareness into measurable community action and accelerate progress toward a malaria-free Nigeria.

Also speaking, the Chairman of Geneith Pharmaceuticals Limited and sponsor of the competition, Mr. Emmanuel Umenwa, challenged Nigerian youths to take advantage of the initiative and become drivers of change in the healthcare sector.

“Young people represent the future of this nation, and they possess the power to permanently transform Nigeria’s healthcare narrative,” he said.
“This initiative is about enabling them to lead that transformation rather than inheriting the burden of preventable diseases.”

Chief Umenwa noted that while existing malaria control efforts have recorded successes, greater youth participation is needed to achieve total eradication of the disease.
“Unless we fully carry young people along in this fight, malaria elimination will remain a distant goal,” he warned.

“The energy, digital literacy, innovation, and sheer population strength of Nigerian youth are the critical ingredients required to finally win this decades-long battle.”
He further described the competition as an investment in future healthcare leadership and community advocacy.

“To effectively combat malaria, we must strengthen every component of the health system, including financing, workforce development, and service delivery,” he said.
“We must reignite our collective passion for defeating malaria and refuse to become complacent while millions continue to suffer from a preventable disease.”

According to him, the initiative will also contribute to sustainable human capital development by encouraging participants to embrace lifelong commitments to health promotion and community service.

The programme aligns with the objectives of the Department of Public Health of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, which has consistently advocated community-based approaches to sustaining malaria control gains.
In a letter of partnership, the department noted that long-term success against malaria would require integrating prevention and awareness efforts into everyday community life, particularly at the grassroots level.

As part of the programme, organisers disclosed that all registered participants will undergo specialised training and be certified as “Malaria Ambassadors.”

The training is expected to equip students with practical knowledge and advocacy skills to promote malaria prevention, encourage healthy behaviours and lead awareness campaigns within their schools, communities and local government areas.

Organisers expressed confidence that the initiative’s grassroots structure would create a nationwide network of youth advocates capable of advancing the Zero Malaria vision across the country.

Prince Iloabanafor noted that the programme comes at a critical time when malaria continues to impose significant social and economic costs on millions of Nigerian families and places considerable pressure on the nation’s healthcare system.

He added that by investing in youth-led advocacy and community engagement, the competition aims to establish a sustainable framework that will continue supporting malaria elimination efforts beyond the duration of the contest.

Students, educational institutions, youth organisations and other stakeholders have therefore been encouraged to participate in what observers describe as one of Nigeria’s most innovative public health interventions.

Registration for the Geneith Health Competition is currently open through the competition portal. Organisers expressed optimism that the initiative would evolve into a national movement empowering young Nigerians to lead the campaign for a malaria-free future.