In a strategic push to tackle Nigeria’s malaria burden, the Federal Government has thrown its weight behind the Geneith National Health Competition, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at mobilizing Nigerian youth to fight malaria through education, advocacy, and innovation.
Unveiled on Friday in Abuja, the programme is a collaborative effort between Geneith Pharmaceuticals Ltd and CEOAfrica, with prizes worth approximately ₦1 billion—including ₦400 million in cash and ₦600 million in gift items—targeted at students across junior and senior secondary schools as well as tertiary institutions.
Speaking on behalf of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, the Director of Public Health, Dr. Godwin Ntadom, described the competition as a “timely and strategic intervention.”
> “While nations like Belgium, Britain, and the U.S. eliminated malaria decades ago, Nigeria continues to suffer. It’s time we moved from rhetoric to results,” Ntadom declared.
He highlighted that malaria in Nigeria is not just a medical challenge but also rooted in environmental and socioeconomic conditions such as poor drainage, overcrowding, and low public awareness.
> “This initiative aligns with the national strategy by engaging youth as change agents. Their influence in homes and communities can spark long-lasting transformation,” he added.
Declaring the competition open, Ntadom applauded Geneith Pharmaceuticals for leveraging private-sector innovation to solve public health crises.
Chairman of Geneith Pharmaceuticals, Mr. Umenwa Emmanuel, emphasized the competition as more than a CSR project—it is a call to reengineer malaria solutions from the ground up.
> “This isn’t another event—it’s a national wake-up call. Nigeria accounted for 66.7 million malaria cases and over 189,000 deaths in 2022 alone. These numbers demand emergency-level response,” he stated.
He urged the youth to embrace the 2024 theme—“Reinvest, Reimagine, Reignite, and Stay Committed”—as a launchpad for tech-driven, locally rooted solutions.
Chairman of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN), Pharm. (Mrs.) Wosilat O. Giwa, praised the campaign as a movement rather than a mere programme.
> “Nigeria, the DRC, and Niger bear more than half of global malaria deaths. But we are not powerless. Empowered youth and modern tools like vaccines and treated nets can shift this narrative,” she asserted.
Former President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Pharm. Ayuba Tanko Ibrahim, called for stronger backing of local pharmaceutical production as part of sustainable malaria response strategies.
Prince Cletus Ilobanafor, CEO of CEOAfrica and team lead for the initiative, called the programme a “historic milestone” in youth-led health mobilisation.
> “With over ₦600 million in support, this is Africa’s largest health competition. We’re training students to become malaria ambassadors who can lead change from classrooms to communities,” he said.
Representing over 40 million Nigerian students, Amb. Comrade Egunjobi Samuel Oluwaseyi pledged full student support for the campaign.
> “This is not just a malaria programme; it is a life-saving mission. Nigerian students are behind it 100%. The future of this fight lies in our hands,” he affirmed.
With firm support from government, professional bodies, the pharmaceutical industry, and student leaders, the Geneith National Health Competition marks a bold new chapter in Nigeria’s war against malaria—one led by its youth and powered by innovation, advocacy, and national unity.
