Malaria Fight: Jos NGO GICD Sponsors Students For N1bn Geneith Health Competition

KINGSLEY EBERE 

The fight against malaria in Plateau State has received a major boost as the Guardian Initiative for Community Development, GICD, has thrown its weight behind the Geneith Health Competition, GHC, by sponsoring secondary school students in Jos for the nationwide malaria awareness campaign.

The development took place at the GICD headquarters on Tafawa Balewa Street, Jos, where the management of the child-focused non-governmental organisation announced its full endorsement of the competition and its decision to sponsor students under its care.

According to the organisation, the move is in line with its core mandate of advancing education, strengthening child protection and promoting socio-economic resilience among underserved children and youths in Plateau State.

Speaking on the decision, a management representative of GICD said the organisation believes that exposure to national platforms is a critical form of protection and empowerment for young people.

“Our work at GICD is driven by the conviction that guided exposure is itself a form of protection. It broadens the perspective of young people and equips them to make informed choices that will positively affect their communities,” the representative said.

The representative added that by participating in the Geneith Health Competition, the students would be transformed from classroom learners to community health advocates capable of promoting malaria prevention in their homes and neighbourhoods.

The endorsement came after an outreach and activation visit to the GICD office by Geneith Health Competition activator, Amos Sunday, who engaged the management and facilitated the registration of the students.

Sunday commended GICD for not only endorsing the initiative but for taking a practical step to remove financial barriers that could have prevented the students from participating.

He described the enthusiasm displayed by the students during the activation session as inspiring, noting that GICD has shown how child-focused organisations can translate commitment to education into real opportunities.

“The sponsorship by GICD, especially for a competition with over N1 billion in prizes, shows an understanding of child protection that goes beyond welfare to include access to knowledge and platforms for growth,” Sunday said.

In an official appreciation statement, the organisers of the Geneith Health Competition thanked GICD for its support, stressing that collaboration among NGOs, schools and communities remains key to building a healthier Nigeria.

The Geneith Health Competition, powered by Coatal Forte Softgel, is a youth-focused national initiative designed to engage secondary and tertiary institution students in malaria advocacy, research and community mobilisation.

The competition is organised by CEOAFRICA and sponsored by Geneith Pharmaceuticals Ltd, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. It is aimed at promoting behavioural change and community-level intervention in the fight against malaria.

Reacting to the development, the Managing Director of CEOAFRICA and initiator of the competition, Prince Cletus Ilobanafor, and the Chairman of Geneith Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Chief Emmanuel Umenwa, described GICD’s support as a major boost to the national campaign.

They called on young Nigerians to become Ambassadors of the War Against Malaria and use the platform to promote preventive practices.

Prince Ilobanafor said if malaria is not defeated, it will continue to affect national progress, adding that the competition is designed to harness the creativity of young people for health advocacy.

On his part, Chief Umenwa said Geneith Pharmaceuticals has committed N1 billion to the initiative, comprising N400 million in scholarships and cash prizes and N600 million worth of educational materials.

He urged school administrators, community leaders and political stakeholders to encourage eligible students to register before the deadline.