Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, has expressed concern over the country’s continued struggle with malaria, despite years of significant investment and hosting two major global malaria summits in 2000 and 2023.
Speaking at the unveiling of the Geneith Health Competition in Abuja, the minister—represented by Director of Public Health, Dr. Godwin Ntadom—described the situation as “unfortunate,” noting that Nigeria still bears the highest global burden of malaria.
“Despite hosting the world’s largest malaria summits in 2000 and 2023, Nigeria continues to bear the highest global burden of the disease,” Pate said. “It is time to shift from talk to action by empowering our youth to lead that charge.”
The Geneith Health Competition, launched by Geneith Pharmaceuticals in collaboration with CEOAFRICA and Coatal Forte Softgel, is aimed at mobilizing secondary school students and undergraduates for grassroots-level advocacy and intervention. Participants will engage in community outreach, health education, and project development focused on reducing malaria cases and deaths.
Describing the initiative as a “timely and strategic intervention,” Pate emphasized the importance of involving young people in the country’s public health efforts.
Other speakers at the event, including Mr. Umenwa Emmanuel, underscored the urgency of Nigeria’s malaria crisis. He revealed that Nigeria accounted for 27% of global malaria cases and 31% of malaria-related deaths in 2022.
“This is not just a campaign, it is a call to action to reimagine how we fight malaria,” Emmanuel said. “We are placing tools in the hands of young Nigerians to innovate, advocate, and inspire behavioral change. Malaria should now be treated as a national emergency.”
Prince Cletus Ilobanafor, another speaker, also highlighted the power of youth involvement in driving change, calling the initiative “a movement” rather than just a competition.
“The future of public health lies in the hands of these students. They must own this fight if we are to win it,” he said.
