16/07/2026
CRIDCOM, UCTH PARTNER TO BOOST HEALTHCARE THROUGH DIASPORA KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER
As Otu Okor Leads Courtesy Visit to CMD, Ikpeme
CALABAR – The Cross River State Diaspora Commission, CRIDCOM, has pledged to deepen interagency collaboration with the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, UCTH, to strengthen healthcare delivery in the state through strategic partnerships with professionals in the Nigerian Diaspora.
The pledge was made on Thursday, 16th July 2026, during a courtesy visit by the Chairman of CRIDCOM, Otuekong Chief Otu Okor, FCAI, DrIMALE, and his management team to the Chief Medical Director of UCTH, Prof. Ikpeme A. Ikpeme, at the hospital’s administrative complex in Calabar.
Addressing the CMD and the management team of UCTH, Chief Okor said the visit was aimed at familiarization and building a sustainable framework for interagency collaboration between CRIDCOM and the foremost tertiary health institution in the state.
He informed the hospital management that in line with the “People’s First” Agenda of Governor Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu, the Commission has already begun facilitating the transfer of knowledge and skills from the Nigerian Diaspora Medical Association to health institutions in Cross River State.
“In our mandate to engage, mobilize, and reintegrate Cross Riverians in the Diaspora, we have successfully facilitated a partnership that will see medical experts from the Diaspora share cutting-edge knowledge with our people at home,” Chief Okor stated.
He disclosed that under the initiative, five Gynecologists and five Radiologists from UCTH have been nominated to attend an advanced medical training program in Benin City, Edo State. The training, he said, is part of CRIDCOM’s broader strategy to bridge the capacity gap in critical medical specialties and ensure that Cross Riverians benefit directly from global best practices.
“The Diaspora is a huge asset to our dear state. Our job at CRIDCOM is to ensure that their expertise, resources, and goodwill are channeled to support development at home. This training for our doctors is just the beginning,” he added.
In his response, the Chief Medical Director of UCTH, Prof. Ikpeme A. Ikpeme, welcomed the CRIDCOM delegation and commended the Commission for the initiative. He described the collaboration as timely and strategic, noting that knowledge transfer from the Diaspora will significantly improve clinical outcomes and specialist care at the hospital.
Prof. Ikpeme thanked the Commission for nominating UCTH doctors for the training in Benin City and pledged the hospital’s commitment to sustaining the partnership going forward.
He, however, appealed for support in the area of infrastructural development to complement manpower training and enhance service delivery at the teaching hospital.
“We appreciate CRIDCOM for thinking of UCTH. Training our doctors is key, but we must also match it with the right infrastructure to deliver world-class healthcare. We look forward to more collaborations with the Commission under the leadership of Governor Otu,” the CMD said.
The CRIDCOM Chairman was accompanied on the visit by Mrs. Emily Maduike, ommissioner for Finance & Account; Mrs. Ukpa Ekanem, Director of Administration; Barr. Otop Bassey, Legal Adviser; and other management staff of the Commission.
Also in attendance from UCTH were: Dr. Innocent Abang, Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee; Dr. Maria-Maureen Bassey, Director of Administration; Dr. Felix Archibong, Deputy Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee (Research and Training); Dr. Stephen Ogbudu, Deputy Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee (Clinical Services); Mr. William Offiong, Head of General Administration, Office of the CMD; and Ms. Roseline Ikpeme, Head of Department, Corporate Affairs Department.
The visit ended with a group photograph.
CRIDCOM MEDIA
