The District Head of Lailaba and Sarkin Gobir Lailaba in Kebbi State, Alhaji Suleiman Muhammad Mera, has called for stronger grassroots action against malaria.
He warned that vulnerable and underserved communities could be left behind if investments and public attention to the disease decline.
Mera spoke while endorsing the nationwide Geneith Health Competition during a visit by the competition’s Activator, Aminu Ahmad Zubairu, to his palace.
The monarch said traditional institutions, community leaders, governments and development partners must work together to sustain malaria prevention efforts, with greater attention to communities where access to health information and services remains limited.
He advocated the involvement of young people, saying students could help take malaria prevention messages from schools to homes and communities.
According to him, empowering students with health knowledge and advocacy skills would create a network of young health ambassadors capable of promoting malaria prevention, encouraging early treatment and improving health-seeking behaviour at the grassroots.
‘Malaria is a killer disease, and anything that supports its eradication is welcome.
‘Our students are ready to take up the challenge and excel in this competition,’ Mera said.
He said the Lailaba community would support the participation of its students in the competition and urged stakeholders to ensure that students in rural and hard-to-reach communities were not excluded.
‘With strong commitment, sustained investment, multisectoral action and community engagement, malaria can be defeated,’ he said.
The traditional ruler added that traditional institutions had a critical role in mobilising communities and supporting public health interventions, calling on other traditional rulers and corporate organisations to support the initiative.
Replying , Zubairu said the monarch’s endorsement would encourage more students across Kebbi State to participate in the campaign against malaria.
The Geneith Health Competition was initiated by the Managing Director of CEOAFRICA, Prince Cletus Sunday Ilobanafor, and sponsored by the Chairman of Geneith Pharmaceuticals Limited, Chief Emmanuel Umenwa.
Ilobanafor said the initiative was designed to move students beyond being passive recipients of health information to becoming advocates for malaria prevention in their communities.
‘Through this competition, our goal is to see students become ambassadors for a malaria-free Nigeria,’ he said.
He said the involvement of traditional institutions could strengthen community ownership of malaria interventions and help health information reach more households, particularly in underserved areas.
Organised by CEOAFRICA in partnership with the Department of Public Health and sponsored by Geneith Pharmaceuticals Limited, the competition targets secondary and tertiary students across the country.
It combines health education and advocacy with academic competition and offers scholarships, academic rewards and other prizes valued at over ?1 billion.
Organisers said growing support from traditional institutions could help expand the campaign’s reach as registration for the competition continues until October 30, 2026.