Efforts to strengthen the fight against malaria in Nigeria have received a major boost following the endorsement of the Geneith Health Competition by the Association of Patent and Proprietary Medicine Dealers (APPMED) and the formal participation of Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) in the nationwide initiative.
The President of APPMED, Comrade Rev. Kubiat Akpan, disclosed the association’s support in Lagos, describing the competition as a timely intervention that brings frontline healthcare providers into a youth-driven campaign against malaria.
“As medicine dealers on the frontlines of healthcare delivery across every ward and local government in Nigeria, we see the devastating impact of malaria on families every single day,” Akpan said.
“APPMED’s endorsement is a commitment to action. Our members nationwide will actively support these young ambassadors, ensuring that the message of prevention, proper diagnosis, and effective treatment reaches every household. When we align community health practitioners with the passion of our youth, malaria will have no hiding place in Nigeria.”
The endorsement comes on the heels of an earlier endorsement of the Geneith Health Competition (GHC) by the leadership of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), under the leadership of Pharm. Ambrose Ezeh.
Meanwhile, YABATECH has formally communicated its decision to participate in the competition to CEOAFRICA, organisers of the initiative in partnership with Geneith Pharmaceuticals Limited.
Speaking on behalf of the Registrar, YABATECH Deputy Registrar, S. S. Akadiri, commended the initiative for combining academic development with public health advocacy.
“Yaba College of Technology is interested in the competition, and our students will be sensitized on the registration details,” Akadiri stated.
“We thank the organisers for bringing the College on board to participate in the competition. It is believed that our students will avail themselves of the opportunity for empowerment through the Geneith Health Competition.”
Akadiri also highlighted the financial component of the competition, noting that the rewards could provide meaningful support to students facing economic challenges while encouraging academic and social leadership.
“In today’s economic climate, the financial rewards attached to this competition are transformative for young scholars,” he added.
“Winning part of this grand fund goes far beyond immediate cash; it can clear tuition fees, fund critical research, support accommodation, and provide the seed capital these students need to scale their health advocacy projects. By pairing financial liberation with civic responsibility, this initiative ensures our students are not only motivated to eradicate malaria, but are also equipped with the resources to secure their own educational futures.”
The inclusion of YABATECH and other participating institutions reflects the expanding reach of the competition, which is attracting schools and tertiary institutions across the country as both an academic platform and a vehicle for public health awareness, leadership development and community engagement.
The latest registrations followed sensitisation visits by Geneith Health Competition activators across different parts of Nigeria. The field teams have been engaging institutional leaders, student bodies and community stakeholders to promote youth participation in the national malaria campaign.
Organised by CEOAFRICA, sponsored by Geneith Pharmaceuticals Limited and powered by Coatal Forte Softgel, the Geneith Health Competition is endorsed by the Department of Public Health of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
The initiative provides secondary and tertiary students across the country with an opportunity to become ambassadors of malaria awareness while promoting prevention, appropriate treatment and community advocacy.
The competition features a ₦1 billion empowerment package covering cash prizes, scholarships, educational support and institutional participation.
At the National Star Winners stage, top individual performers in the tertiary and secondary categories will receive cash prizes, scholarships and gift items.
Organisers said prizes across the various categories would be awarded strictly on merit through a transparent and rigorous evaluation process, while participating students would be recognised for their intellectual contributions and grassroots impact.
The Initiator of the project and Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of CEOAFRICA, Prince Cletus Ilobanafor, said the initiative was designed to move malaria advocacy beyond conventional approaches by placing young Nigerians at the centre of grassroots action.
“Every single life lost to malaria is a stolen future, a lost leader, and a blow to our nation’s progress,” Ilobanafor said.
“We have sat back for decades relying solely on traditional methods. Today, through this partnership, we are deploying Nigeria’s greatest resource, our intelligent, energetic youth, to champion a grassroots revolution that will make malaria a chapter in our history books, not our daily reality.”
Ilobanafor also charged the project’s field teams to intensify mobilisation across schools and campuses ahead of the registration deadline.
“To our courageous Geneith Health activators in every state, campus, and community across Nigeria: know that you are our foot soldiers on a critical rescue mission,” he said.
“You are not just distributing forms or sharing information; you are carrying the banner of a healthier, malaria-free nation. As the October deadline draws near, redouble your dedication, reach every school, and leave no student behind.”
The Chairman of Geneith Pharmaceuticals Limited and sponsor of the initiative, Chief Emmanuel Umenwa, also called on parents, political leaders and school administrators to encourage eligible students to participate before registration closes.
“I want to extend my heartfelt appreciation to the management of YABATECH and all the secondary and tertiary institutions nationwide that have boldly taken up this cause to protect our young people,” Umenwa stated.
“To those academic institutions, principals, vice-chancellors, and rectors who are yet to register, I urge you to join us without hesitation. October is already at our doorstep, and every day we delay, malaria claims more innocent lives and disrupts the education of our children.”
He added: “This is not just a student contest; it is a national rescue mission. I charge parents to guide their children to register, I urge political leaders to sponsor youth in their constituencies, and I call on all institutions to open their doors to this movement today.”
The endorsement by APPMED and the growing participation of academic institutions such as YABATECH highlight the expanding multi-sectoral support for youth-led malaria advocacy in Nigeria.
With health practitioners, educational institutions, corporate stakeholders and young people increasingly joining the campaign, the Geneith Health Competition is expanding its platform for combining public health awareness with youth empowerment and community engagement.
Eligible secondary and tertiary students are encouraged to complete their registration before the portal closes on October 30, 2026.
Full guidelines, eligibility requirements and registration details are available on the official portal, www.geneithhealthcompetition.com.
