As part of efforts to combat malaria and promote health consciousness among Nigerian youth, CEOAfrica, in partnership with Geneith Pharmaceuticals Ltd, has launched a student-centered competition.
The Geneith Health Competition aims to empower students across tertiary institutions with the knowledge, tools, and motivation to fight malaria in their communities.
The chairman of Geneith Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Chief Emmanuel Umenwa, while speaking at a press conference and the launch of the competition yesterday in Abuja, expressed enthusiasm for the initiative, calling it “a platform to inspire innovative thinking among students” and a step toward “eliminating malaria from our society.”
Represented by Mr. Abimbola Bowoton, Chief Umenwa stated that the competition empowers young people to become advocates and changemakers, encouraging them not just to raise awareness, but to propose and implement solutions.
The Managing Director of CEOAfrica, Prince Cletus Ilobonafor, announced ₦600 million in prizes and support packages available to participants nationwide. He said “It’s not just about the money. It’s about rewriting the narrative of youth participation in public health. Our students are no longer waiting for the government, they are taking the lead,“ he said.
In his remarks, the Senate President of the National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS), Sen. Comr. Oyewumi Ayomide, who praised the initiative’s educational value. said the competition is not only timely but transformational, adding that it promotes preventive healthcare, encourages student-led innovation, and creates opportunities for leadership development.
Also, the President of the National Association of Nigeria Colleges of Education Students (NANCES), Comr. Eegunjobi Oluwaseun, emphasised the private sector’s growing role in national development. “Geneith Pharmaceuticals and CEOAfrica have demonstrated what it means to invest in the future. But we also call on government at all levels to strengthen funding and support for health initiatives like this,“ he said.
The National President of the National Association of University Students (NAUS), Comr. Josiah Oche, called on students to seize the opportunity to create real impact. “This competition is more than just a challenge, it is a call to serve, to innovate, and to protect our communities. Through awareness, education, and action, we can change the story of malaria in Nigeria,“ he said.
The three student leaders urged their peers across universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and even secondary schools to register and be part of the historic campaign.
