By: Manoah Kikekon
ABUJA, NIGERIA — In a historic move to mark World Malaria Day 2026, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has officially endorsed the Geneith Health Competition (GHC), a nationwide initiative aimed at mobilizing Nigerian youth to lead the final charge against malaria.
The partnership, approved by the Department of Public Health, will see the competition implemented across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, through Director of Public Health, Godwin Ntadom, hailed the initiative as a "strategic intervention" necessary for improving national health outcomes.
At the formal launch held at the Geneith Head Office in Lagos, Emmanuel Umenwa, Chairman of Geneith Pharmaceuticals Ltd, announced a staggering N1 billion commitment to the cause. This investment includes:
N400 Million in academic scholarships and cash rewards for winning students.
N600 Million worth of educational materials and community outreach items.
"To effectively combat malaria, we must strengthen the entire health system financing, workforce, and service delivery," Umenwa stated. "We are nurturing a new generation of health advocates who see preventive healthcare as a priority."
Nigeria currently bears a heavy burden, accounting for approximately 27% of global malaria cases and 31% of global malaria deaths. Prince Cletus Iloabanafor, Managing Director of CEOAFRICA and initiator of the GHC, warned that these statistics will not change without a radical shift in strategy.
“Unless Nigeria tackles malaria by carrying the youth along, eradication will remain a mirage,” Iloabanafor remarked. “We are calling on Nigerian youth to serve as 'Ambassadors of War Against Malaria.' They are the agents of behavioral change needed at the grassroots level.”
The Geneith Health Competition, powered by Coatal Forte Softgel, targets students in secondary and tertiary institutions. It is designed to foster health literacy, original research, and community-level advocacy. By integrating malaria education back into the school system, the GHC aims to create a ripple effect of awareness from classrooms to households.
The initiative has already secured massive support from major national student bodies, creating a unified front that mirrors successful global models of disease elimination.
With the formal backing of the Federal Government, registration for the Geneith Health Competition 2026 is officially open to students nationwide. Participants will have the opportunity to showcase research and advocacy projects that offer practical solutions for a malaria-free Nigeria.
“The time has come for Nigeria to take full ownership of this fight,” Iloabanafor concluded. “Without decisive action and youth inclusion, we risk repeating the same narrative every year. Today, that narrative changes.”