As part of efforts to eradicate malaria and promote a healthier future for Nigerians, the Geneith Health Competition (GHC) has launched a nationwide campaign aimed at engaging secondary school and tertiary institution students in the fight against the disease.

The organisers announced that registration for the forthcoming competition has officially commenced, calling on students across the country to participate in the initiative designed to raise awareness, encourage innovation, and support malaria prevention efforts.

The competition organized 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, represents a bold and innovative response to Nigeria’s persistent malaria burden by transforming young Nigerians into active agents of public health change.

Announcing the opening of the registration portal, the initiator of the competition and Managing Director of CEOAFRICA, Prince Cletus Sunday Iloabanafor, described the initiative as a historic opportunity for students, parents, educational institutions, and communities across the federation to participate in a movement that could redefine Nigeria’s public health landscape.

According to him, the GHC 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.

Prince Iloabanafor urged Nigerians to embrace the initiative with confidence and determination, drawing inspiration from nations that have successfully overcome malaria through coordinated public health efforts and 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. 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,” he stated.

Iloabanafor stressed that the initiative comes at a critical moment, as the social and economic impact of malaria continues to affect millions of Nigerian families and place enormous pressure on healthcare systems nationwide.

By investing in youth-led advocacy and community engagement, he said, the competition seeks to establish a sustainable framework that will support malaria elimination efforts long after the contest itself has concluded.

The initiative has already begun generating excitement among students nationwide, many of whom view the competition as an opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to national development while gaining valuable knowledge and leadership experience.

The competition is indeed a transformative platform that goes beyond conventional health campaigns.

Health professionals and stakeholders have welcomed the initiative, describing it as a timely intervention capable of translating awareness into measurable community action and accelerating the nation’s progress toward a malaria-free future.

Adding his voice to the campaign, the Chairman of Geneith Pharmaceuticals Limited and sponsor of the competition, Mr. Emmanuel Umenwa, challenged Nigerian youth to seize the opportunity and become drivers of a new healthcare reality for the country.

Umenwa emphasized that the future of Nigeria’s health sector rests heavily on the energy, creativity, and commitment of its young population.

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

He noted that conventional top-down approaches to malaria control have achieved significant gains but are no longer sufficient to secure complete eradication.

“Unless we fully carry young people along in this fight, malaria elimination will remain a distant goal. 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 stated.

Umenwa further described the competition as a strategic investment in the future of healthcare leadership and advocacy in Nigeria.
His world: “To effectively combat malaria, we must strengthen every component of the health system, including financing, workforce development, and service delivery. We must reignite our collective passion for defeating malaria and refuse to become complacent while millions continue to suffer from a preventable disease.

He added that the initiative would contribute significantly to sustainable human capital development by inspiring participants to pursue lifelong commitments to health promotion and community service.

The partnership aligns with the broader objectives of the Department of Public Health of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, which has emphasised the importance of community-driven strategies in sustaining malaria control gains.

In its letter of partnership, the department noted that achieving long-term success against malaria requires moving beyond periodic interventions and embedding prevention and awareness efforts into everyday community life, particularly at the grassroots level.

To accomplish this vision, every registered participant will undergo specialized training and be empowered to serve as a certified “Malaria Ambassador.” Through this process, students will acquire practical knowledge and advocacy skills that will enable them to champion malaria prevention, promote healthy behaviors, and drive awareness campaigns within their schools, communities, and local government areas.

Students, educational institutions, youth organizations, and stakeholders across the country are therefore encouraged to take immediate advantage of what many observers are already describing as one of Nigeria’s most innovative public health interventions.
Registration for the Geneith Health Competition is now officially open and can be completed online through the competition portal.