The National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) has honoured Prince Cletus Ilobanafor, Managing Director of CEOAFRICA and initiator of the Geneith Health Competition (GHC), and Mr. Emmanuel Umenwa, Managing Director of Geneith Pharmaceuticals, for their exceptional contributions to youth empowerment and public health in Nigeria.
Both men were presented with the National Outstanding Leadership Performance Award (NOLPA) during the 44th Inaugural Senate Sitting of NAPS, held at the historic House of Chiefs, Agodi Secretariat, Ibadan, Oyo State.
Prince Ilobanafor was named the “Most Student-Friendly Managing Director in Nigeria 2025” in recognition of his steadfast commitment to advancing vocational and polytechnic education, as well as championing initiatives that directly benefit Nigerian youth. The award underscores his track record of integrity, advocacy, and innovation in educational development.
Mr. Umenwa, sponsor of the groundbreaking Geneith Health Competition, was equally commended for his strategic investment of one billion naira into the youth-led health initiative. The competition aims to eliminate malaria by harnessing the creativity and energy of students in secondary and tertiary institutions across the country.
Launched by Nigeria’s Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, the Geneith Health Competition is the first of its kind in Africa. It reflects the Federal Government’s vision of deploying community-based and youth-driven solutions in tackling Nigeria’s most persistent health challenges. According to the World Health Organization, Nigeria bears the world’s highest burden of malaria, accounting for roughly 27% of global cases and deaths.
Through the GHC, students are mobilized as malaria ambassadors, contributing ideas, campaigns, and innovations toward reducing the disease’s spread. The initiative aligns with national health objectives and global strategies for malaria elimination.
Speaking after receiving the award, Prince Ilobanafor dedicated the honour to God and to his late father, describing it as a personal call to deepen his service to humanity.
“I dedicate this award to God and to my father who just passed on. His belief that ‘service to humanity is key’ is a value I hold dearly and intend to uphold,” he said.
He called for stronger partnerships to expand the reach and impact of the Geneith Health Competition, urging public and private stakeholders to support its mission.
“I thank the leadership of Nigerian students for believing in this project. Together, we will eradicate malaria,” Ilobanafor affirmed, encouraging students to register and participate in the competition.
Registration for the Geneith Health Competition is ongoing. Interested students are encouraged to visit www.geneithhealthcompetition.com for more details and to join the movement.
The event in Ibadan was attended by representatives from academia, government agencies, civil society, and student unions nationwide, all echoing a unified message: that youth empowerment and public health must remain central to Nigeria’s development agenda.
Reporting by Niran Odufayo