The District Head of Lailaba and Sarkin Gobir Lailaba in Kebbi State, Alhaji Suleiman Muhammad Mera has called for a stronger grassroots effort to eliminate malaria in Nigeria.

Mera made this call when he received the Geneith Health Competition’s Activator, Aminu Ahmad Zubairu, during a courtesy visit to his palace.

The monarch urged traditional rulers, community leaders, governments and development partners to strengthen collective efforts against malaria through sustained investment, community mobilisation and multisectoral collaboration.

He warned that progress in the fight against the disease could be reversed if attention and resources devoted to malaria prevention decline.

“With strong commitment, sustained investment, multisectoral action, and community engagement, malaria can be defeated.

“Malaria is a killer disease, and anything that supports its eradication is welcome. Our students are ready to take up the challenge and excel in this competition,” the monarch said.

Mera particularly called for greater involvement of young people in malaria prevention and health advocacy, stressing that students in rural and hard-to-reach communities must not be left behind.

He said the Lailaba community would support the participation of its students in the competition, adding that equipping young people with health knowledge and advocacy skills would help extend vital information from schools to homes and communities across Kebbi State.

According to him, empowering students as health ambassadors would create a generation capable of promoting malaria prevention, encouraging early treatment and advocating healthier practices within their communities.

“This is the kind of initiative the world must rally behind to foster sustainable healthcare solutions, bridge critical awareness gaps, and mobilise local actors against preventable diseases,” he said.

The traditional ruler also urged other traditional institutions, community leaders and corporate organisations across the country to support the initiative, noting that traditional institutions have an important role in driving sustainable health interventions at the grassroots.

Reaffirming the commitment of the Gobir Traditional Council to public health, Mera said collective action remained essential to achieving a malaria-free society.

In his response, Zubairu expressed appreciation to the monarch for supporting the youth-focused initiative.

“We are immensely grateful to His Royal Highness, Sarkin Gobir Lailaba, for opening his doors to us and standing firmly behind this youth-centred movement.

“His royal blessings serve as a powerful catalyst that will inspire students across Kebbi State to actively join the fight for a malaria-free Nigeria,” Zubairu said.

The leadership of the Geneith Health Competition, under the vision of its initiator and Managing Director of CEOAFRICA, Prince Cletus Sunday Ilobanafor, alongside the sponsor, Chief Emmanuel Umenwa, Chairman of Geneith Pharmaceuticals Limited, also expressed appreciation to the traditional ruler for his support.

Ilobanafor said the initiative was designed to transform students from passive recipients of health information into active ambassadors in the fight against malaria.

“Malaria is Nigeria’s deadliest enemy, causing economic deprivation and loss of lives. Through this competition, our goal is to see students become ambassadors for a malaria-free Nigeria,” he said.

He added that the backing of traditional institutions was crucial to expanding grassroots participation, strengthening community ownership and ensuring that malaria education reaches households across the country.

Organised by CEOAFRICA in partnership with the Department of Public Health and sponsored by Geneith Pharmaceuticals Limited, powered by Coatal Forte Softgel, the Geneith Health Competition targets secondary and tertiary students across Nigeria at state, regional and national levels.

The initiative combines health education, advocacy and competition, with scholarships, academic rewards and other prizes valued at over N1 billion available to participating students.