By Musa Solomon
Kogi State Ministry of Education said it will collaborate with the National Malaria Elimination Program, the State Ministry of Health and the development partners to ensure that the 2026 Malaria Insecticide Treated Nets Mass Campaign in the State is Successful.
The State Commissioner for Education Hon. Wemi Jones made this known while receiving the Mass Campaign Implementation Team led by the Program Manager, State Malaria Elimination Program, Hajia Suleiman Ebun on advocacy visit in Lokoja on Friday.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary Mr. Alabi Albert Bamigbade, the Commissioner commended the Malaria Consortium and the Ministry of Health for the strides they have made in reducing the prevalence of Malaria in the State from 15.9% in 2021 to 8.9% in 2025.
He noted that the achievement is a product of proper planning, Collaboration, resilience and dedication to duties and promised the Ministry’s collaboration to ensure that the Mass Campaign is successful in the State.
Speaking, the Program Manager State Malaria Elimination Program Hajia Suleiman Ebun said due to the efforts of the Malaria Consortium, the prevalence of Malaria has been reduced from 15.9 % in 2021 to 8.9% in 2025, noting that out of the 8.9% adult were largely effected. To benefit both the children and the adults, the Malaria Consortium has come up with the Malaria Insecticide Treated Nets to be distributed to households in vulnerable Communities, she said .
She emphasized the need for the beneficiaries of the Nets to use them appropriately, saying that Malaria treated net should be used for the purpose it was meant for.
Also speaking, the Campaign Manager Malaria Consortium, Dr. Stephen Ake said over 3.7million Malaria Treated Nets will be distributed to vulnerable households in the State
Dr. Ake who commended the State Government for providing the enabling environment said the mobile distribution teams will be moving from house to house to distribute two Nets per household.
According to him, the organization works to improve and save lives in communities affected by Malaria and other preventable diseases.
In her remarks, the State Focal Person, Malaria Consortium, Olubumi Ojelade called on the State Ministry of Education to release schools in various LGA’s for the training of personnel for the exercise.
She pleaded with the Ministry to use all its structures and platforms to disseminate correct information about Malaria prevention and control, noting that students when giving the right information can easily influence their peers about the prevention of Malaria and the correct and consistent use of ITN.
Malaria remains the significant cause of death in the State with the prevalence of 8.9% in 2025. Nigeria has adopted the use of Insecticide Treated Nets (ITN) as a major intervention for Malaria prevention. The Net has the efficacy of three to five years.
