The Association of Patent and Proprietary Medicine Dealers (APPMED) has endorsed the Geneith Health Competition (GHC), as Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) formally joined the nationwide youth-led campaign aimed at strengthening malaria awareness and prevention in Nigeria.
President of APPMED, Comrade Rev. Kubiat Akpan, announced the association’s support in Lagos, describing the competition as a timely initiative that brings frontline healthcare providers and young Nigerians together in the fight against malaria.
Akpan said APPMED members, who operate across communities nationwide, witness the impact of malaria on families and communities and would support participating students in taking preventive health messages to households.
“APPMED’s endorsement is a commitment to action. Our members nationwide will actively support these young ambassadors, ensuring that the message of prevention, proper diagnosis, and effective treatment reaches every household,” he said.
The APPMED endorsement follows an earlier endorsement of the Geneith Health Competition by the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), led by Pharm. Ambrose Ezeh.
Meanwhile, YABATECH has communicated its decision to participate in the competition to CEOAFRICA, organisers of the initiative in partnership with Geneith Pharmaceuticals Limited.
Speaking on behalf of the Registrar, the institution’s Deputy Registrar, S. S. Akadiri, commended the competition for combining academic development with public health advocacy.
“Yaba College of Technology is interested in the competition, and our students will be sensitised on the registration details,” Akadiri said.
He added that the institution’s participation would provide students with an opportunity for empowerment while contributing to malaria awareness and advocacy.
Akadiri also highlighted the financial component of the competition, noting that the prizes could support students facing economic challenges by helping with tuition, research,
accommodation and other educational needs.
The growing participation of YABATECH and other educational institutions, according to the organisers, reflects the expanding national reach of the Geneith Health Competition, which seeks to use education, youth leadership and community engagement to promote malaria prevention and appropriate treatment.
The latest registrations followed sensitisation visits by Geneith Health Competition activators across different parts of the country. The field teams have been engaging institutional authorities, student organisations and community stakeholders to encourage participation ahead of the registration deadline.
Organised by CEOAFRICA, sponsored by Geneith Pharmaceuticals Limited and powered by Coatal Forte Softgel, the competition is endorsed by the Department of Public Health of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
The initiative is open to secondary and tertiary students nationwide, giving participants the opportunity to serve as ambassadors of malaria awareness while promoting prevention, appropriate treatment and community advocacy.
The competition features a ₦1 billion empowerment package comprising cash prizes, scholarships, educational support and institutional participation. Top performers in the secondary and tertiary categories at the National Star Winners stage are expected to receive cash prizes, scholarships and gift items.
The organisers said prizes would be awarded based on a transparent evaluation process, with participants recognised for their intellectual contributions and grassroots impact.
The initiator of the project and Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of CEOAFRICA, Prince Cletus Ilobanafor, said the initiative was designed to move malaria advocacy beyond conventional approaches by placing young Nigerians at the centre of grassroots mobilisation.
“Every single life lost to malaria is a stolen future, a lost leader, and a blow to our nation’s progress,” Ilobanafor said.
He urged the competition’s field teams to intensify mobilisation across schools and campuses before the registration deadline.
Also, the Chairman of Geneith Pharmaceuticals Limited and sponsor of the initiative, Chief Emmanuel Umenwa, called on parents, school administrators and other stakeholders to encourage eligible students to participate.
Umenwa commended YABATECH and other institutions that had joined the campaign, while urging institutions yet to register to take advantage of the opportunity.
He also appealed to parents to guide eligible students through the registration process and encouraged political leaders to support youth participation in their constituencies.
With APPMED and more educational institutions joining the initiative, the organisers said the competition is creating a broader platform for health practitioners, schools, corporate stakeholders and young people to participate in malaria advocacy.
Eligible secondary and tertiary students have until October 30, 2026, to complete their registration. Full guidelines, eligibility requirements and registration information are available on the official Geneith Health Competition portal.
