Events
Plateau Marks 2026 World Malaria Day with Renewed Commitment to Elimination
The Plateau State Government, in collaboration with Plateau State Malaria Elimination Program (SMEP), development partners, and stakeholders, on Saturday commemorated the 2026 World Malaria Day 2026 with a call for sustained action to eliminate malaria across the state and Nigeria.
The event, held at Crystal Hall, Crispan Suites in Jos, was themed “Driven to End Malaria: Now We Can. Now We Must,” with the slogan “Let’s Do It.” Activities began with a sensitisation health walk from Air Force Roundabout to the venue, aimed at raising public awareness on malaria prevention.
The ceremony attracted key stakeholders, including development partners, State Malaria Elimination Programme officers, healthcare workers, students of health institutions, and officials from the Plateau State Ministry of Health.
Representing the Deputy Governor of Plateau State, Ngo Josephine Piyo, Dr Benjamin Garkuwa Sumi described the day as an opportunity to reflect on progress made and reinforce commitment to ending malaria, a disease he noted remains a major public health burden in Nigeria.
According to him, Nigeria accounts for nearly a quarter of global malaria cases and deaths, with an estimated nine to ten deaths occurring every hour due to malaria-related complications. Despite this, he highlighted significant progress, noting that malaria prevalence in the country has declined over the years, while Plateau State has recorded even more remarkable gains.
He disclosed that malaria prevalence in Plateau dropped from 18.8 per cent in 2021 to 2.8 per cent in 2025, attributing the success to coordinated efforts by the State Ministry of Health and the State Malaria Elimination Programme (SMEP), supported by development partners.
Dr. Sumi also cited achievements in key interventions, including over 100 per cent coverage during the 2024 and 2025 Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) campaigns and a 96 per cent success rate in the 2024 Insecticide-Treated Net (ITN) distribution campaign. He added that malaria commodities such as rapid diagnostic kits and treatment drugs are currently being supplied to over 400 health facilities across the state.
He urged residents to adopt preventive measures, including consistent use of treated mosquito nets, environmental sanitation, early testing, and proper antenatal care for pregnant women.
In his remarks, the Plateau State Commissioner for Health, Dr Nicholas Baamlong, commended stakeholders and partners for their roles in reducing malaria prevalence in the state. He emphasised the importance of environmental sanitation, noting that recent sensitisation campaigns and clean-up exercises were part of broader efforts to eliminate mosquito breeding sites.
Baamlong expressed optimism that Plateau could achieve near-zero malaria prevalence in the coming years if collective efforts are sustained, adding that the state currently ranks among the lowest malaria-burden states in Nigeria.
Also speaking, the Program Manager of the State Malaria Elimination Programme, Nurse Kizito Ndak, described the celebration as both a milestone and a strategic platform to evaluate progress and chart the way forward.
He credited the reduction in malaria prevalence to interventions by partners such as the Malaria Consortium and other global health initiatives, as well as increased public awareness driven by media campaigns and community outreach activities.
Ndak stressed the need for continued adherence to preventive practices, including maintaining clean environments, eliminating stagnant water, sleeping under treated nets, and seeking prompt medical testing and treatment.
In his keynote address, Dr. Elijah Otopka described malaria as one of the deadliest mosquito-borne diseases globally, noting that Africa accounts for about 95% of deaths, with Nigeria bearing a major burden. He said the campaign against malaria is not just a celebration but a call to urgent action.
Dr Otopka highlighted major progress in Plateau State, where malaria prevalence dropped from 18.8% in 2021 to 2.8% in 2025. He attributed this success to interventions such as insecticide-treated nets, seasonal malaria prevention, rapid testing, and improved treatment services.
He called for increased domestic funding, stronger health systems, and investment in research and innovation. He urged all stakeholders to work together, saying, “We have the tools, the knowledge, and the political will—now we must end malaria.”
Delivering a goodwill message on behalf of the Malaria Consortium, Dr Mbwas Mashor reiterated that while progress has been made, sustained commitment is necessary to prevent a resurgence of the disease. He noted that over one million children in Plateau have benefited annually from preventive malaria treatments under the SMC programme.
He called on government, policymakers, communities, and partners to strengthen investments and adopt data-driven strategies to accelerate malaria elimination.
Similarly, a representative of the World Health Organisation, Muoghah Abere Favour, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting Plateau State and Nigeria in combating malaria. She emphasized prevention through the use of treated nets, timely access to treatment, and improved environmental hygiene.
Stakeholders at the event unanimously agreed that while the gains recorded are significant, sustained collaboration and public participation remain critical to achieving a malaria-free Plateau State and Nigeria.
The Plateau State Bloggers and Online Media Association (PLABOMA) on Tuesday paid a courtesy visit to the Plateau State Directorate of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to appreciate the State Director, Mrs. Kaneng Tabitha Pam-Hworo, for delivering the keynote address at the association’s recently concluded 2026 World Social Media Day celebration.
The delegation, led by the association’s General Secretary, Mr. Imbrahim Kallamu, was received by the NOA management team at the agency’s state office in Jos.
Speaking during the visit, Kallamu described the meeting as a “thank-you visit” on behalf of the association’s chairman, Mr. Matthew Tegha, who was unavoidably absent.
He said PLABOMA, established in 2020 with 15 pioneer members under its first chairman, Friday Bako, has grown into a professional body of more than 30 bloggers and online media practitioners committed to promoting responsible digital journalism.
Kallamu expressed appreciation to Pam-Hworo for honouring the association’s invitation on short notice and for delivering what he described as an insightful keynote address during the 2026 World Social Media Day held at the Usiju World Event Centre.
According to him, the State Director’s presentation added immense value to the event and underscored the importance of responsible information dissemination in the digital age.
“We are here to appreciate you for honouring our invitation and for the support you continue to give in promoting accurate, timely and responsible information to the public,” he said.
He also commended the National Orientation Agency for its statewide public enlightenment campaigns, recalling the agency’s active role during the 2024 Plateau State local government elections.
Kallamu noted that PLABOMA and the NOA share a common responsibility of providing credible information to the public and pledged the association’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with the agency in tackling fake news, misinformation and disinformation.
Responding, Pam-Hworo thanked the association for the visit, describing the gesture as thoughtful and encouraging.
She noted that although the association’s chairman could not attend the meeting, his consistent communication before the visit reflected the cordial relationship between both organisations.
The NOA State Director highlighted the significant transformation in information dissemination over the years, recalling the era when news reports were manually written and transmitted through fax machines before the emergence of digital media.
She acknowledged that social media and online journalism have revolutionised communication by enabling information to reach audiences almost instantly.
While commending the growth of the new media, Pam-Hworo cautioned practitioners against sacrificing accuracy for speed, stressing that every report should be properly verified before publication.
She cited the circulation of false information regarding the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration exercise as an example of how misinformation could easily mislead the public if left unchecked.
According to her, the misleading report was promptly verified and debunked through the relevant authorities.
The NOA Director also urged bloggers and online publishers to ensure their reports promote national unity rather than deepen divisions.
“Be careful with the kind of news you publish. Verify your stories and avoid spreading fake news. Your reports should unite the country, not divide it,” she said.
Pam-Hworo encouraged media practitioners to maintain professional ethics by reporting factual, balanced and credible stories capable of fostering public trust.
She assured PLABOMA of the agency’s continued support, noting that the NOA remains open to working closely with online media practitioners in promoting civic education, public awareness and national development.
She further emphasized that the agency’s mandate extends beyond civic education to issues including public health, climate awareness, anti-human trafficking campaigns and other national advocacy programmes.
The State Director expressed optimism that stronger collaboration between the NOA and PLABOMA would enhance the dissemination of credible information and contribute to combating fake news across Plateau State.
The visit ended with both organisations reaffirming their commitment to sustaining the partnership in promoting responsible journalism and accurate information dissemination in the state.
Lingzhi Global, with the slogan “For Africa, By Africa,” has launched a coffee awareness campaign in Jos, Plateau State, aimed at promoting coffee consumption while highlighting the economic, agricultural and health opportunities the coffee industry offers to individuals and the nation.
The event brought together captains of industry, political leaders, celebrities, entrepreneurs and members of the public for a celebration of coffee and its growing potential as a driver of economic development.
Speaking at the event, the organisers said the campaign goes beyond promoting Lingzhi Global’s coffee products. It seeks to educate Nigerians on the importance of coffee as one of the world’s most consumed beverages and how a thriving coffee industry can create jobs, improve livelihoods and strengthen local economies.
According to the organisers, increased coffee consumption will stimulate demand, encourage more people to invest in coffee farming and processing, and ultimately build a sustainable coffee value chain across Nigeria.
The campaign also encouraged participants to explore opportunities within the coffee industry, including coffee cultivation, roasting, processing, packaging, distribution and retail, positioning coffee as a viable source of entrepreneurship and employment.
As part of the exhibition, Lingzhi Global showcased a wide range of its products, including:
- Lingzhi Green Tea
- Lingzhi Black Coffee
- Lingzhi Premium Café Au Lait
- Lingzhi Premium Ginseng LG Boost
- Lingzhi Chocolate
- Lingzhi Coffee Beans
- Lingzhi Artisan Roastery
- Lingzhi Espresso
The event was organised by the Chief Executive Officer of Lingzhi Global, Blessing Nenman, who reaffirmed the company’s commitment to promoting coffee culture across Africa under its vision of “For Africa, By Africa.”
One of the highlights of the festival was the free coffee tasting session, where guests sampled different coffee varieties and experienced the unique flavours and benefits of Lingzhi Global’s products.
Organisers expressed optimism that the awareness campaign would inspire more Nigerians to embrace coffee—not only as a healthy beverage but also as a catalyst for economic empowerment, agricultural development and sustainable wealth creation.
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