As Muslims across Nigeria join families and communities in celebrating the dual occasions of the 2026 Children’s Day and the Eid-el-Kabir Festival, the leadership of the Geneith Health Competition (GHC) has extended warm felicitations to Nigerians while calling for collective action to eradicate malaria from the country.
In a joint goodwill message, the Managing Director of CEOAFRICA and Initiator of the Geneith Health Competition, Prince Cletus Ilobanafor, alongside the Chairman of Geneith Pharmaceutical Limited and sponsor of the competition, Emmanuel Umenwa, expressed delight over the significance of the celebrations and urged Nigerians to embrace unity, sacrifice, and national responsibility.
“We warmly felicitate with all our members, their families, and indeed Nigerians at large on the joyous occasions of the 2026 Children’s Day Celebration and the Eid-el-Kabir Festival,” the statement read.
The leaders stressed that the values associated with Eid-el-Kabir — sacrifice, compassion, obedience, unity, and selflessness — should inspire citizens to work together in addressing pressing national challenges, particularly the fight against malaria.
Speaking on the significance of the season, Prince Ilobanafor described Eid-el-Kabir as a powerful reminder of the virtues exemplified by Prophet Ibrahim, noting that such values are urgently needed to strengthen national development and social cohesion.
“This period calls for deep reflection,” he stated, emphasizing the need for Nigerians to devote themselves not only to worship but also to meaningful service to humanity. He urged citizens to extend the lessons of sacrifice beyond religious observance by contributing actively to nation-building efforts.
According to him, Nigerians should use the solemn period to pray for peace, security, and prosperity across the country.
“To all Nigerians, I urge us to use this solemn period to pray fervently for peace, security, and prosperity in our land. Let us pray for our children, troops on the frontlines, for farmers to return safely to their fields, and for unity to prevail over division in our nation,” he said.
Prince Ilobanafor further described the launch of the Geneith Health Competition as a major milestone in Nigeria’s anti-malaria campaign, noting that the initiative is designed to deepen malaria education at the grassroots level and empower students as ambassadors of malaria prevention.
“We must do things differently if we expect to get the needed results, but at the heart of it all is citizen participation,” he stated.
He added that the health of citizens remains the foundation upon which the nation’s future is built, calling on Nigerians to move beyond passive awareness to active engagement through environmental cleanliness and preventive healthcare practices.
In his goodwill message, Mr. Umenwa urged Muslims and all Nigerians to continue praying for lasting peace, stability, and economic prosperity in the country, noting that prayers offered during sacred seasons remain invaluable to national growth and unity.
Addressing the burden of malaria in Nigeria, the Geneith Pharmaceutical chairman described the disease as a major public health challenge that continues to hinder economic productivity and child development.
He stressed that eliminating malaria requires urgent and collective action at all levels of society, including within individual households.
According to him, the successful eradication of malaria would significantly reduce the financial burden on families and the healthcare system, allowing resources currently spent on treatment and hospital services to be redirected toward other productive ventures.
Mr. Umenwa also acknowledged the critical role of parents, teachers, and school administrators in shaping healthier communities, urging stakeholders within the educational sector to continue supporting initiatives that promote public health and national development.
He emphasized that education and healthcare must work hand-in-hand, describing schools as strategic platforms for driving behavioral change and creating awareness capable of eliminating deadly diseases such as malaria.
Reaffirming his company’s commitment to the fight against malaria, Mr. Umenwa highlighted the extensive sponsorship of the Geneith Health Competition, powered by Coatal Forte Softgel, noting that the initiative is strategically positioned to equip secondary and tertiary school students with the knowledge needed to become anti-malaria ambassadors in their communities.
“The essence of the Geneith Health Competition is to create awareness on the dangers of the disease and the importance of accessing available interventions,” he said.
Reiterating his personal and corporate commitment to the anti-malaria campaign, he added: “Zero Malaria starts with me. Join me, so we can all end malaria for good in Nigeria.”
Mr. Umenwa further called for stronger public-private partnerships, stressing that sustained investment in grassroots health advocacy, preventive education, and accessible treatment would enable Nigeria to successfully defeat malaria.
In a final call to action, both leaders urged healthcare professionals, government agencies, private organizations, and members of the public to continue supporting and monitoring malaria control initiatives to ensure lasting progress toward a malaria-free Nigeria.
While wishing Muslim faithful a peaceful and blessed Eid Mubarak celebration, they reiterated that a healthy nation is a wealthy nation and expressed optimism that through collective commitment and national unity, Nigeria can successfully achieve a malaria-free future.
