By: Manoah Kikekon
LAGOS, NIGERIA – Registration has officially commenced for the groundbreaking Geneith Health Competition, a first-of-its-kind national initiative designed to mobilize secondary school and tertiary institution students across Nigeria. This ambitious campaign aims to eliminate malaria and create a healthier future for the nation by transforming young Nigerians into active agents of public health change.
The competition is organized by CEOAFRICA, sponsored by Geneith Pharmaceutical Limited, and powered by Coatal Forte Softgel. In a major boost for the initiative, it is being held in partnership with the Department of Public Health of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, representing a bold and innovative response to Nigeria’s persistent malaria burden.
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 Prince Iloabanafor, 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 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,” Prince Iloabanafor 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 initiative has already begun generating immense excitement among students nationwide. Many participants view the competition as a rare opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to national development while gaining valuable knowledge and leadership experience.
Health professionals and stakeholders have warmly 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. Project coordinator Adams echoed these sentiments, highlighting that the competition is a transformative platform that goes far beyond conventional health campaigns.
“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.”
Adding his voice to the campaign, the Chairman of Geneith Pharmaceuticals Limited and primary 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. Speaking during an exclusive interview, Chief 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,” Chief Umenwa said. “This initiative is about enabling them to lead that transformation rather than inheriting the burden of preventable diseases.”
Chief Umenwa noted that while conventional, top-down approaches to malaria control have achieved significant gains, they 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,” 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 a strategic investment in the future of healthcare leadership and advocacy in Nigeria, adding 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 seamlessly with the broader objectives of the Department of Public Health of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, which has continually emphasized the importance of community-driven strategies. In its official letter of partnership, the department noted that achieving long-term success against malaria requires moving beyond periodic interventions and embedding prevention 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 within their schools.
Promote healthy behaviors in their immediate communities.
Drive targeted awareness campaigns across local government areas.
Organizers believe that this grassroots approach will create a powerful nationwide network of youth advocates capable of translating the Zero Malaria vision into tangible results across every corner of the federation. Prince Iloabanafor stressed that the initiative comes at a critical moment, as the social and economic impact of malaria continues to place enormous pressure on healthcare systems nationwide.
Students, educational institutions, youth organizations, and stakeholders across the country are encouraged to take immediate advantage of what observers are calling 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 at **[www.geneithhealthcompetition.com](http://www.geneithhealthcompetition.com)**.
As momentum continues to build, the initiative is poised to become a defining national movement—one that empowers young Nigerians to lead the charge toward a future where malaria is no longer a threat, but a chapter permanently closed in the nation’s history.