By Asuquo Cletus
The Cross River State Health Insurance Agency (CRSHIA) has conducted a two-day capacity-building workshop aimed at enhancing the oversight and strategic governance roles of its governing board.
Held at the Monty Suites Hotel in Calabar on Wednesday, the workshop brought together board members, agency executives, government officials, and key stakeholders in the health sector to explore best practices in health governance, regulatory compliance, and sustainable financing under the state’s health insurance framework.
In his opening remarks, the Director General of CRSHIA, Chief Godwin Iyala, underscored the essential role of the board in ensuring transparency, accountability, and the successful execution of the agencyโs mandate.
โThis training marks the beginning of a broader initiative to equip the Agencyโs Board and Management Team,โ Iyala stated. โItโs an opportunity to reassess our progress and embrace our evolving role as a hub for cross-national health insurance innovation.โ
He expressed gratitude to Governor Bassey Otu for his support and vision in positioning Cross River State as a benchmark for health insurance coverage in Nigeria. Iyala also emphasized the importance of continuous learning and collaboration, encouraging participants to apply the insights gained to strengthen the agencyโs impact.
โA well-informed board is central to driving the reforms needed in the health sector, especially as we pursue universal health coverage in Cross River State,โ he added.
Representing the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, the Chief Whip and Chairman of the House Committee on Health, Rt. Hon. Hilary Bisong, in his keynote address emphasized the urgent need for health sector reforms anchored in equity, accountability, and community engagement.
In his remarks, Bisong reaffirmed the legislatureโs commitment to health as a fundamental right, urging the board to rise above bureaucratic inertia and political distractions.
โThis workshop is more than a trainingโitโs a transformative platform,โ he said. โWe must think beyond policy papers and commit to building a people-centered health system that endures political cycles.โ
He cited global examples of health system reformโincluding Rwanda, Ghana, Taiwan, and Indonesiaโas evidence that transformation is possible with vision, discipline, and citizen-first governance.
Bisong proposed a six-point approach to achieving sustainable health insurance in Cross River State, including community ownership, fair and scalable financing, digital transformation, transparent leadership, continuous professional development, and performance monitoring.
“Health insurance must never be politicized,” Bisong emphasized. “As lawmakers, we will continue to push for reforms that guarantee the institutional independence of CRSHIA and strengthen healthcare financing in the state.”
He concluded with a call to action: โLet us be the generation that placed citizens above politics, built systems that work, and invested in health as a tool for prosperity and peace.โ
Chairman of the Ebonyi State Health Insurance Agency, Barrister Elizabeth Ogbaga, described the training as both timely and insightful. She noted that the knowledge gained would significantly enhance board deliberations and help the agency achieve better outcomes for its enrollees.
โThis initiative has deepened our understanding of the agencyโs mandate and the expectations of our role as board members. We are now better equipped to provide strategic direction, to synergize with Cross and Ebonyi and ensure that the agency remains accountable to the people of both Cross River State,โ she said.
The event concluded with a renewed commitment from participants to uphold the principles of good governance, inclusive policymaking, and strategic oversight in the delivery of health services across the state.
