The Cross River State Health Insurance Agency (CRSHIA) has received national recognition for its outstanding contributions to expanding healthcare coverage, emerging as the recipient of the Outstanding Commitment to Equitable Healthcare Access Award 2026 at the Health Insurance and Managed Care National Leadership Awards of Excellence.
The prestigious award was presented to the Director General of the agency, Dr. Godwin Iyala, who received it on behalf of CRSHIA during the 2026 National Leadership Awards ceremony, held on July 30.
Presenting the award, the National Coordinator of the Health Insurance and Managed Care National Leadership Award of Excellence, Dr. Moses Ayibiowu, said the agency was selected in recognition of its exceptional leadership, innovation and sustained commitment to ensuring equitable access to quality healthcare services for residents of Cross River State.
According to him, the award reflects the agency’s remarkable performance in expanding health insurance coverage, strengthening healthcare delivery and implementing initiatives that have made affordable healthcare more accessible, particularly to vulnerable and underserved populations.
Ayibiowu commended the leadership of CRSHIA for demonstrating excellence in health insurance administration and for aligning its programmes with the broader goal of achieving universal health coverage in Nigeria.
Receiving the award on behalf of the agency, the Director General, Dr. Godwin Iyala, described the recognition as a testament to the unwavering commitment of the Cross River State Government, under the leadership of Governor Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu, to building a resilient and inclusive healthcare system.
He dedicated the award to the governor, the management and staff of the agency, as well as the healthcare providers and development partners whose support has continued to drive the agency’s reforms and achievements.
Dr. Iyala reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to sustaining ongoing reforms, expanding health insurance enrolment and ensuring that more residents, especially the poor and vulnerable, have access to affordable, quality healthcare services.
He noted that the recognition would further inspire the agency to deepen innovation, improve service delivery and contribute meaningfully to the realization of universal health coverage in Cross River State.
The Outstanding Commitment to Equitable Healthcare Access Award 2026, conferred under the Health Insurance and Managed Care National Leadership Awards of Excellence, recognizes institutions that have distinguished themselves through exceptional leadership, impactful health insurance programmes and measurable contributions to improving access to healthcare across Nigeria.
By Kingsley Agim
