GICD Sponsors Jos Students for Nationwide Malaria Campaign, Endorses Geneith Health Competition
By Primetime Reports
The Guardian Initiative for Community Development (GICD), a child-focused non-governmental organisation based in Jos, Plateau State, has endorsed the Geneith Health Competition (GHC) and sponsored secondary school students under its care to participate in the nationwide initiative aimed at mobilising young Nigerians against malaria.
The intervention underscores the role of grassroots organisations in advancing public health education by connecting youth empowerment, education and child protection with national efforts to prevent and eliminate malaria.
GICD, headquartered on Tafawa Balewa Street, Jos, said its decision to sponsor the students reflected its commitment to expanding educational opportunities, strengthening child protection and promoting socio-economic development among underserved communities.
The organisation’s management explained that exposing young people to meaningful learning opportunities was essential to developing their potential, broadening their perspectives and equipping them to make informed decisions that would benefit their communities.
“Our work at GICD is driven by the conviction that guided exposure is itself a form of protection, one that broadens perspectives and equips young people to make informed life choices,” a management representative said.
The representative added that participation in the competition would enable the students to translate classroom knowledge into practical community engagement, empowering them to promote malaria prevention among their families and communities.
The endorsement followed an outreach and activation visit to GICD’s headquarters by Amos Sunday, an activator for the Geneith Health Competition, during which he engaged the organisation’s management and facilitated the registration of secondary school students under its care.
Sunday commended GICD for embracing the initiative and providing financial support to ensure that the students could participate without being hindered by registration costs.
He described the students’ enthusiasm during the activation session as encouraging, noting that GICD’s intervention demonstrated how child-focused organisations could translate their commitment to education and protection into tangible opportunities for young people.
According to him, the competition, which offers more than ₦1 billion in cash rewards, scholarships and educational materials, provides students with a platform to develop their knowledge, creativity and capacity for community service.
He added that participation in public health initiatives could strengthen young people’s understanding of malaria prevention while encouraging them to become advocates for healthier communities.
In a statement following the outreach, the organisers of the Geneith Health Competition expressed appreciation to GICD for sponsoring and encouraging the students under its care to participate in the nationwide campaign.
“We commend GICD’s steadfast commitment to youth empowerment, health education, and the fight against malaria,” the statement read, stressing the importance of collaboration among schools, civil society organisations and communities in advancing public health awareness.
The Geneith Health Competition is a nationwide youth-focused initiative designed to engage students in secondary and tertiary institutions in malaria awareness, advocacy, research and community mobilisation.
Powered by Coatal Forte Softgel, the competition is organised by CEOAFRICA and sponsored by Geneith Pharmaceuticals Ltd, in collaboration with the Department of Public Health of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. It aligns with national malaria-control priorities, particularly behavioural change communication and community-based interventions.
Reacting to GICD’s endorsement, CEOAFRICA Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer and competition initiator, Prince Cletus Ilobanafor, alongside Geneith Pharmaceuticals Ltd Chairman, Chief Emmanuel Umenwa, described the development as a significant boost to efforts to mobilise young Nigerians against malaria.
They urged students across the country to embrace the role of Ambassadors of the War Against Malaria by acquiring relevant knowledge, challenging misconceptions and promoting preventive practices within their communities.
Ilobanafor said GICD’s intervention demonstrated the capacity of civil society organisations to complement national disease-control efforts through youth engagement and community mobilisation.
“If we do not win this war against malaria, malaria will win the war against us,” he cautioned. “We must fight until we achieve total victory and freedom from this mosquito pandemic. I want a society where mosquitoes do not dictate the lifespan of our citizens. Every single life lost to malaria represents a stolen future and a blow to our nation’s progress.”
Read Also:APPMED Endorses Geneith Health Competition as YABATECH Joins Nationwide Malaria Campaign
He explained that the competition was designed to harness the intelligence, creativity and enthusiasm of young Nigerians to build a grassroots movement capable of strengthening malaria awareness and prevention nationwide.
Ilobanafor also urged field activators working across states and communities to intensify mobilisation as the registration deadline approaches, emphasising the need to ensure that eligible students have the opportunity to participate.
Umenwa, in his remarks, commended GICD for its humanitarian efforts and called for renewed commitment to malaria education in schools, homes and communities.
“We must revive malaria education in schools, communities, and every household as a matter of urgency,” he said. “Malaria has taken too much from us, but with commitment and shared responsibility, it can be defeated.”
He disclosed that Geneith Pharmaceuticals had committed ₦1 billion to the competition, comprising ₦400 million in scholarships and cash rewards and ₦600 million worth of educational materials and outreach items.
According to Umenwa, the investment is intended to equip young people with the knowledge, resources and motivation to become effective advocates for malaria prevention.
Reaffirming his commitment to humanitarian service, he said his support for the initiative was driven by a desire to contribute to the well-being of society.
“I will do it over and over again. This is my purpose for the entire world,” he said. “My company is first to serve humanity, and the little that remains is for my family and I.”
The Geneith Pharmaceuticals chairman also called on political leaders, school administrators, community organisations and other non-governmental organisations to encourage eligible students to register before the competition’s deadline.
He expressed appreciation to GICD’s management and participating organisations across Plateau State for supporting the campaign, urging other community leaders to provide young people with opportunities that combine education, empowerment and public health advocacy.
GICD’s sponsorship brings additional students from Jos into the nationwide initiative, highlighting the importance of community-based partnerships in extending the reach of public health campaigns.
Beyond the competition’s prizes, the initiative seeks to equip students with knowledge they can share with their families and communities, translating awareness into practical malaria-prevention measures.
The collaboration also reinforces the importance of a collective response to malaria, requiring sustained contributions from government agencies, healthcare institutions, private-sector organisations, schools, civil society groups and young people.
Through its sponsorship and endorsement of the Geneith Health Competition, GICD has joined the growing effort to empower young Nigerians to take an active role in malaria awareness and prevention, with the broader goal of protecting lives and reducing the disease’s impact on future generations.
Leave a Reply