APPMED Backs Geneith Malaria Competition as YABATECH Joins National Malaria Campaign
…Youth-focused initiative offers ₦1bn empowerment package
For students who may know malaria mainly as a recurring illness affecting families around them, a new national campaign is seeking to turn that everyday experience into an opportunity to learn, advocate and contribute to malaria prevention.
The Association of Patent and Proprietary Medicine Dealers, APPMED, has endorsed the Geneith Health Competition, while Yaba College of Technology, YABATECH, has formally joined the initiative designed to mobilise Nigerian youths in the fight against malaria.
The development comes as organisers intensify efforts to get more students and institutions involved ahead of the October 30, 2026 registration deadline.
President of APPMED, Comrade Rev. Kubiat Akpan, announced the association’s support in Lagos, noting that patent and proprietary medicine dealers work at community level and regularly encounter families dealing with the effects of malaria.
Akpan said APPMED would support participating students and help promote messages around malaria prevention, proper diagnosis and effective treatment through its nationwide network.
The endorsement follows earlier support for the competition from the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria, ACPN, led by Pharm. Ambrose Ezeh.
YABATECH has also communicated its decision to participate to the organisers. The institution’s Deputy Registrar, S. S. Akadiri, who spoke on behalf of the Registrar, said students would be sensitised about the competition and encouraged to take part.
Akadiri said the initiative provides an avenue for students to combine academic engagement with public health advocacy, while also exposing them to opportunities for educational and financial support.
According to the organisers, the Geneith Health Competition comes with a ₦1 billion empowerment package comprising cash prizes, scholarships, educational support and institutional participation.
The competition is open to secondary and tertiary students and is designed to promote awareness of malaria prevention, appropriate treatment and community advocacy.
For participating students, the organisers envisage a role beyond the competition itself. They are expected to serve as youth ambassadors who can take malaria prevention messages into their schools, homes and communities.
The initiative has been gaining participation from educational institutions in different parts of Nigeria following sensitisation visits by Geneith Health Competition activators.
Field teams have been meeting school authorities, student bodies and community stakeholders to explain the competition and encourage eligible students to register.
Organisers say winners will be selected through a merit-based evaluation process, with top performers in the secondary and tertiary categories expected to receive cash prizes, scholarships and other rewards at the national stage.
Initiator of the competition, Prince Cletus Ilobanafor, said the programme was established to place young Nigerians at the centre of grassroots malaria advocacy.
He explained that involving young people could help take health education beyond conventional channels and into schools, families and communities where prevention messages can have a direct impact.
Chairman of Geneith Pharmaceuticals and sponsor of the initiative, Chief Emmanuel Umenwa, urged parents, school administrators and other stakeholders to encourage eligible students to participate.
With registration scheduled to close on October 30, 2026, students interested in the competition are expected to check the official registration portal for eligibility requirements and registration guidelines.
Niran Odufayo
