By Otitoju Femi
The Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), through its Population Health Initiative (FUPHI) and Population Research Infrastructure Model (PORIM) research group, has launched a two-day community sensitisation campaign across Ekiti State to combat malaria and promote public health awareness.
The exercise, carried out in collaboration with the Federal Medical Centre Ido-Ekiti and the Ekiti State Ministry of Health, is themed “Protect, Prevent, Test, and Treat.” It aims to educate residents on the dangers of malaria and practical steps to curb its spread.
The outreach, spearheaded by the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Prof. Sunday Adedini, who also serves as the Principal Investigator (PI) of the project, alongside Prof. L.F.C. Ntoimo, held on April 7 and 8, 2026, across eight communities: Aaye, Ido, Igbole, Ora, Usi, Ilogbo, Ifisin, and Orin.
Speaking during a courtesy visit to the palace of the Alaaye of Aaye-Ekiti, Oba Amos Idowu Ojo, Professor Adedini underscored the global and local urgency of tackling malaria.
“The vision of the United Nations is that no child should die from malaria and no woman should lose her life in the process of childbirth,” he said. “However, evidence from our research shows that Nigeria still records significant deaths among children and adolescents due to malaria. In the South-West, Ekiti State remains one of the most affected, which is why this intervention is critical.”
He identified environmental and behavioural factors contributing to malaria prevalence, including stagnant water, overgrown surroundings, poor waste disposal, and misuse of mosquito nets.
“We observed that while mosquito nets are distributed, many people do not use them appropriately. Some even sell them or repurpose them for farming activities,” he noted. “This sensitisation is to empower residents with the knowledge to protect themselves, maintain hygienic environments, and adopt preventive measures.”
Professor Adedini further explained that the team’s visit to traditional institutions was deliberate and strategic.
“We cannot carry out meaningful sensitisation without the knowledge and support of community leaders. After this exercise, our data collectors will return to assess its impact and gather feedback from residents,” he added.
In his response, Oba Amos Idowu Ojo welcomed the delegation and commended FUOYE’s consistent engagement with the community.
“You are always welcome in Aaye. We appreciate your efforts and regard you as partners in progress,” the monarch said. “However, there are challenges with the distribution and usage of mosquito nets. Some individuals hoard them, while others fail to use them at all. We urge you to help educate our people on proper usage and ensure fair distribution.”
The traditional ruler also raised concerns about the misuse of community data by previous researchers.
“We have had instances where data collected in Aaye was used to represent other communities.
This is unacceptable. We trust that as professionals, you will uphold integrity and ensure that our community is properly represented,” he cautioned.
Responding, the Director of FUOYE Counselling and Human Development Centre (CHDC), Prof. Benjamin Omolayo, assured the monarch of transparency and accountability.
“I assure Your Majesty that whatever is meant for Aaye will be delivered to Aaye. We will not repeat the mistakes of the past researchers. Our work here is guided by integrity and community impact,” he said. “We are impressed by the peace and cooperation in this community, which makes our work easier.”
Also speaking, High Chief Adeogun Ogundare commended the initiative and appealed for deeper institutional collaboration.
“We are confident that this programme will yield positive outcomes. We encourage FUOYE management to consider establishing more developmental initiatives here. We are ready to provide the necessary support,” he said.
Other members of the research team included: Hom. Omodun Emmanuel, Mrs. Adeyemo Folake, Mr. Ajayi Babatunde, Mrs. Abegunde Oluwayemisi representing the D.P.O, Dr. Omolayo from Federal Teaching Hospital Ido (FETHI), Mr. S.M Abatan, Mr. Olajubu Amos, Dr. Christiana Alex-Ojei, and Mr. Ogunsakim Adesoji The campaign is part of broader efforts by FUOYE and its partners to align with global health goals and strengthen grassroots awareness in the fight against malaria.
Photo Credit: Toye Fisher
