International Youth Day: GHC Mobilises Students for Malaria-Free Nigeria as EKSU, Sahlan Join the Nationwidwide Competition
The Geneith Health Competition (GHC) has rallied Nigerian youths to take a leading role in the fight against malaria as Nigeria joins the world to mark International Youth Day 2026.
The GHC initiator and CEOAFRICA Managing Director, Prince Cletus Ilobanafor, and Chairman of Geneith Pharmaceuticals Limited, Chief Emmanuel Umenwa, congratulated Nigerian youths while urging students nationwide to become active agents in the campaign for a malaria-free Nigeria.
The call aligns with the 2026 International Youth Day theme, “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations,” which highlights the shared aspirations of young people despite differences in their social, economic and geographical circumstances.
The campaign received fresh momentum as Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado-Ekiti, and Sahlan College of Health Science and Technology, Jos, formally joined the GHC ahead of the October 30 registration deadline.
Ilobanafor said young Nigerians, regardless of their backgrounds, share common aspirations for good health, quality education, meaningful participation and a prosperous future, stressing that malaria remains a major threat to these goals.
He urged more universities, polytechnics and colleges of education to participate, describing the competition as an opportunity for students to win scholarships, develop leadership skills and contribute to public health advocacy.
At EKSU, Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Babatola Ayodele, approved students’ participation and encouraged undergraduates to compete for the top prizes, while Sahlan College also expressed strong institutional commitment to the initiative.
Organisers said student participation has surged nationwide, with youths increasingly positioned as Malaria Ambassadors to drive grassroots sensitisation, digital advocacy and community sanitation.
The GHC, organised by CEOAFRICA, sponsored by Geneith Pharmaceuticals and powered by Coatal Forte Softgel, has an overall ₦1 billion prize pool covering cash awards, scholarships, training and educational materials across junior secondary, senior secondary and tertiary categories.
The competition begins with a virtual preliminary examination, after which the top 50 qualifiers in each state advance to live public-health quizzes, regional contests and the national grand finale. Students across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory can register on www.geneithhealthcompetition.com before the October 30 deadline.
Ilobanafor called on Nigerians to unite across regional, political and ideological lines to confront malaria, stressing that empowering young people with health knowledge and educational opportunities is critical to building a healthier and more prosperous Nigeria.
