The Federal Cooperative College, Eleyele, Ibadan, has officially flagged off the Geneith Health Competition (GHC), a nationwide initiative designed to empower students as frontline ambassadors in the fight against malaria.
The ceremony, held on Monday, August 25, 2025, at the college conference hall, brought together education leaders, health professionals, and stakeholders from across the country.
First launched on May 2 in Abuja by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate (represented by Dr. Godwin Ntadom, Director of Public Health), the GHC has enjoyed broad support from government agencies, professional associations, and educational institutions.
Chairing the Ibadan event, Hajia Wosilat Giwa, Chairperson of the Governing Council Board of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, highlighted the initiative’s impact, alongside contributions from Pharm. Tanko Ibrahim Ayuba, President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), and Prof. Cyril Odianose Usifoh, immediate past PSN president. Commissioners of education and health from several states also lent their voices in support of the programme.
Dr. Ibrahim Abdul Ganiyu, Provost of the college, applauded the organisers for selecting the institution as the pioneer host. “Malaria is a killer disease, and anything that supports its eradication is welcome at this time. One of President Bola Tinubu’s eight-point agenda is to reinvigorate healthcare, and this initiative keys directly into that vision. Our students are ready to take up the challenge,” he said.
He disclosed that 90 percent of students who report at the school clinic present with malaria-related symptoms, adding that the college would procure 1,000 doses of malaria medication to safeguard student health during the competition.
Prince Cletus Ilobanafor, MD/CEO of CEOAFRICA and initiator of the project, described malaria as “Nigeria’s deadliest enemy,” stressing that prevention is key. He revealed that the GHC carries a ₦1 billion commitment from Geneith Pharmaceuticals—₦400 million in cash prizes and ₦600 million in scholarships and incentives.
“Through this competition, students will not only compete but also become ambassadors for a malaria-free Nigeria,” Ilobanafor said.
Student leaders also threw their weight behind the initiative. Comrade Emmanuel Aluko, President of the Students Union Government (SUG) of the college, described it as a “life-changing opportunity,” while Comrade Oyewumi Festus Ayomide, National President of the National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS), urged students nationwide to register, stressing that participation brings both education and access to treatment.
Medical personnel also hailed the programme. Mrs. Sulaimon Rofiat Ambimbola, Head of the College Clinic, emphasized that “sanitation, prevention, and awareness are key. If students are healthy, their education thrives.”
The Geneith Health Competition, which opened for registration on June 1, 2025, will run until February 15, 2026. Prizes worth over ₦1 billion—including cash awards, scholarships, and other incentives—await participating students. Interested candidates can register via www.geneithhealthcompetition.com.
With the Ibadan flag-off, the Federal Cooperative College has positioned itself as a pioneer in student-led health advocacy, setting the pace for other institutions to rally behind the national goal of a malaria-free Nigeria.
