The battle for supremacy in Nigeria’s biggest school-based health advocacy competition has gathered remarkable momentum as three of the country’s prestigious educational institutions—Dennis Memorial Grammar School (DMGS), Onitsha; St. Patrick’s College, Asaba; and Muwanshat International Academy, Jalingo—have officially joined the Geneith Health Competition (GHC), declaring their determination to compete for national glory and a share of the over ₦1 billion prize package.
Their entry marks another significant milestone for the nationwide initiative, with schools across Nigeria increasingly embracing the competition, not only as an academic contest but also as a strategic platform for raising a new generation of young health advocates committed to eliminating malaria and promoting healthier communities.
The latest wave of registrations followed intensive sensitisation visits by Geneith Health Competition activators across different regions of the country. In Taraba State, the regional health activator, Abduljalilu Sani Garba, visited Muwanshat International Academy in Jalingo, where he was received by an enthusiastic management team and students eager to represent Northern Nigeria on the national stage.
Garba commended the school’s commitment to academic excellence, describing the atmosphere during the visit as one filled with determination, confidence and healthy competition. According to him, the students demonstrated an exceptional willingness to engage with the programme, affirming that the competition is already inspiring young Nigerians to become leaders in health advocacy.
A similar atmosphere of excitement greeted the South-East regional health activator, Mrs. Chinyere Chidimma Olisa, at the historic Dennis Memorial Grammar School (DMGS), Onitsha.
She praised the institution’s rich academic heritage, discipline and culture of excellence, noting that the students displayed remarkable enthusiasm and intellectual curiosity from the moment the programme was introduced.
Mrs. Olisa said the eagerness shown by the students reflected the spirit of true champions, expressing confidence that the school would be among the leading contenders as the competition progresses toward the national finals.
School administrators at the participating institutions described the Geneith Health Competition as a timely initiative that bridges education and public health while creating opportunities for students to develop leadership skills, critical thinking and social responsibility.
Welcoming the Geneith Health Competition to DMGS, the Principal, Revd. Dr. Chiemezie Ogidi, applauded the organisers for introducing an initiative that empowers students to become active participants in addressing one of Nigeria’s most persistent public health challenges.
He noted that malaria continues to disrupt learning by keeping countless students away from classrooms, adding that the competition provides an innovative approach to transforming young people from victims of the disease into advocates for its elimination.
According to him, the programme aligns perfectly with the school’s long-standing tradition of academic excellence and character development.
“Malaria remains one of the greatest threats to the future of our young people. Initiatives like this equip students with the knowledge they need to protect themselves while preparing them to contribute meaningfully to society,” he said.
Ogidi assured the organisers that DMGS would provide participants with every necessary academic support, including study materials and mentorship, expressing confidence that the school would compete strongly for the national title.
Reacting to the growing participation by schools across the country, the Managing Director of CEOAFRICA and initiator of the Geneith Health Competition, Prince Cletus Sunday Iloabanafor, described the development as a clear indication that Nigerian schools are embracing education-driven solutions to public health challenges.
He said the involvement of respected institutions from the South-East, South-South and North-East demonstrates the growing national acceptance of the initiative and reinforces its vision of building a united front against malaria.
Prince Iloabanafor explained that the competition was conceived after witnessing the devastating impact malaria continues to have on the academic performance and future prospects of millions of Nigerian children.
He noted that beyond rewarding academic excellence, the competition seeks to nurture informed young leaders who will champion healthy living within their schools, homes and communities.
“The Geneith Health Competition has become much more than a quiz competition. It is a national movement committed to raising a generation of health ambassadors who understand that preventing malaria begins with knowledge, discipline and community action,” he said.
He urged participants to dedicate themselves to intensive preparation and encouraged parents, schools and students to rely only on official communication channels for information regarding the competition. He also directed all Geneith Health Competition activators to wear approved identification during school visits to ensure transparency throughout the registration exercise.
Chairman of Geneith Pharmaceuticals Limited and sponsor of the initiative, Chief Emmanuel Umenwa, also charged Nigerian youths to embrace their responsibility as champions of healthier communities.
He described malaria as one of the country’s greatest public health burdens and stressed that the creativity, innovation and energy of young Nigerians remain critical to achieving lasting success in the fight against the disease.
Chief Umenwa further disclosed that the Geneith Health Competition is designed as an annual national programme, with future editions expected to expand beyond malaria to address other critical public health and safety issues affecting the country.
Organised by CEOAFRICA, sponsored by Geneith Pharmaceuticals Limited and powered by Coatal Forte Softgel, the Geneith Health Competition enjoys the endorsement of the Department of Public Health of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
The competition is open to students in Junior Secondary Schools, Senior Secondary Schools and tertiary institutions across the country and will be conducted in three stages—State, Regional and National Finals.
Participants will first undertake an online qualifying examination before advancing to physical state competitions, where successful candidates will compete for places at the regional stage and ultimately the grand national finale.
To reward outstanding performance, the organisers have announced prizes worth over ₦1 billion, including cash awards, scholarships, educational materials, healthcare products, training opportunities and certificates of merit.
As registrations continue nationwide, the organisers have called on eligible public and private secondary schools as well as tertiary institutions across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to complete their registration through the official Geneith Health Competition portal www.geneithhealthcompetition.com ahead of the October 30, 2026 national finale.
With the entry of some of Nigeria’s most respected academic institutions and growing enthusiasm from students across the federation, the Geneith Health Competition is fast emerging as one of the country’s most impactful youth-driven educational and public health initiatives, combining academic excellence with a national campaign to eliminate malaria and build a healthier future for generations to come.
