In a bold step to combat malaria through youth-led innovation and public health advocacy, student leaders across Nigeria’s tertiary institutions have joined forces under the Geneith Health Competition (GHC) — a nationwide initiative promoting malaria awareness, research, and community-based solutions.
Launched in Abuja, the GHC is a collaborative effort between CEOAfrica and Geneith Pharmaceuticals Limited, with support from Costal Forte Softgel. The competition spans universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and secondary schools, empowering students to become active participants in malaria prevention through education, advocacy, and innovation.
Speaking at the launch event and joint press conference in Asokoro, Abuja, Chairman of Geneith Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Chief Emmanuel Umenwa, described the initiative as a groundbreaking platform to inspire youth-driven solutions to one of Africa’s deadliest diseases. “This competition is the first of its kind in Nigeria. It empowers students to not only raise awareness but also develop real-world solutions to malaria in their communities,” he said.
Chief Umenwa called on students to embrace their role as agents of change, stressing that the voices and ideas of young Nigerians are essential to achieving national malaria elimination goals. “Every idea and action matters. Together, we can build a healthier, malaria-free Nigeria,” he affirmed, while urging for sustained collaboration among government, the private sector, and civil society.
Echoing this call, Amb. Comr. Eegunjobi Samuel Oluwaseun, President of the National Association of Nigeria Colleges of Education Students (NANCES), emphasized the devastating impact of malaria on student health, academic performance, and national development. Representing the joint leadership of NANCES, the National Association of University Students (NAUS), and the National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS), Eegunjobi called for united action across all campuses and communities.
“Today, we rise not only to speak against malaria but to act against it,” he declared. He praised the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for its commitment to health sector reforms and commended the Federal Ministry of Health for its continued focus on disease control.
The press conference also featured remarks from Comr. Oyewumi Festus Ayomide, President of NAPS, and Comr. Josiah Peter Oche GCNUS, National President of NAUS. Both leaders underscored the need for youth-led research and innovation in health advocacy. “This competition empowers students with life-saving health education, encourages innovation, and instills a culture of preventive healthcare,” Ayomide noted.
Josiah Peter Oche emphasized the urgency of action. “Malaria remains a public health crisis, but through education and leadership, we can change that narrative. This platform allows students to inspire communities and lead transformative change,” he said.
The Geneith Health Competition is already gaining momentum as a unifying force in the student health movement. It seeks to develop a new generation of young health champions, capable of designing and implementing sustainable malaria interventions tailored to local contexts.
As the campaign gains ground, student leaders and organizers are calling on government agencies, health institutions, and private sector stakeholders to deepen support through funding, technical assistance, and policy backing.
“This is our collective responsibility,” Eegunjobi said. “Let us unite to make malaria a disease of the past.”
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