The Federal Cooperative College (FCC), Eleyele, Ibadan, has officially flagged off the Geneith Health Competition (GHC), a nationwide campaign designed to engage students as frontline ambassadors in the fight against malaria.
The launch, held on Monday, August 25, 2025, at the college conference room, attracted key stakeholders in the health and education sectors, reflecting a strong collaborative drive to curb the prevalence of malaria across Nigeria.
The GHC, first unveiled in Abuja on May 2, 2025, by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, represented by Dr. Godwin Ntadom, Director of Public Health, has continued to gain momentum, with several institutions and organizations pledging their support.
Presiding over the Ibadan event, Hajia Wosilat Giwa, Chairperson of the Governing Council Board at the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, highlighted the need to involve young people in proactive public health initiatives. She was joined by notable figures, including Pharm. Tanko Ibrahim Ayuba, President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN); Pharm. (Prof.) Cyril Odianose Usifoh, Immediate Past PSN President and Co-Chairman of the College of Assessors; and commissioners of education and health from several states.
The Provost of FCC, Dr. Ibrahim Abdul Ganiyu, expressed gratitude to the organizers for selecting the college as the pioneer host for the program.
“Malaria is a killer disease, and anything that supports its eradication is welcome. This aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s eight-point agenda, particularly the reinvigoration of the healthcare system for the benefit of all. Our students are ready to rise to this challenge,” he said.
Dr. Ganiyu disclosed that roughly 90% of the students seeking medical attention at the school clinic present malaria symptoms. To tackle this, the college has committed to procuring 1,000 doses of antimalarial medication to ensure students are healthy and able to participate actively.
Initiator of the competition and MD/CEO of CEOAFRICA, Prince Cletus Ilobanafor, emphasized that the GHC is not just about prizes but about changing behaviors.
“Malaria is Nigeria’s deadliest enemy, causing economic losses and countless deaths. With this initiative, we want students to take ownership of their health and their environment, working toward a malaria-free Nigeria,” he noted.
Geneith Pharmaceuticals has committed ₦1 billion to the project , ₦400 million in cash prizes and ₦600 million in scholarships and incentives to motivate students and institutions nationwide to participate.
Student leaders, including Comrade Emmanuel Aluko, SUG President of FCC, and Comrade Oyewumi Festus Ayomide, National President of the National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS), described the initiative as timely and transformative, urging students across the country to register and take an active role in the campaign.
Mrs. Sulaimon Rofiat Ambimbola, Head of the College Clinic, also praised the program for blending awareness with practical solutions, stressing that healthy students are better positioned for academic success.
Registration for the competition, which began on June 1, 2025, will remain open until February 15, 2026, through www.geneithhealthcompetition.com.
By taking the lead in this campaign, the Federal Cooperative College has positioned itself as a trailblazer in public health advocacy, inspiring other institutions to join in creating a healthier, malaria-free generation.