Naomi Oyoe Ohene Oti, an oncology nurse from Ghana, has been awarded the 2025 Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award for her groundbreaking work in cancer care and nurse training across Africa.
Ohene Oti received the prestigious honour, which includes a $250,000 cash prize, during a ceremony in Dubai. The award was presented by Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, the UAE’s minister of tolerance and coexistence.
Selected from more than 100,000 applicants representing 199 countries, Ohene Oti currently serves as head of nursing at the National Radiotherapy Oncology and Nuclear Medicine Centre at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra. She was recognised for her efforts to address inequities in cancer care, particularly through education reform, training initiatives and system-wide improvements.
“For over two decades, I have witnessed the inequities in cancer care firsthand and dedicated myself to closing these gaps through training, outreach and system-level change,” Ohene Oti said during the ceremony. “This recognition is not mine alone – it belongs to every nurse across Ghana, Africa and the world who leads with resilience, compassion and courage.”
Under her leadership, Ghana’s oncology nursing sector has undergone significant transformation. She played a key role in launching training partnerships with global institutions, including Canada’s Cross Cancer Institute, and helped develop Ghana’s postgraduate oncology nursing curriculum in 2015. The program has since produced more than 60 oncology nurse specialists and 10 breast care nurses.
Beyond Ghana, Ohene Oti has shaped cancer care policy and education continent-wide. She serves on the education and training committee of the African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC), co-investigates projects under the Global Bridges Oncology grant, and collaborates with international groups such as the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and the International Society of Nurses in Cancer Care (ISNCC).
Her work has centred on creating culturally relevant and equitable cancer care solutions in under-resourced regions.
The award comes amid global efforts to raise the profile of the nursing profession. World Health Organisation Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus delivered a message during the ceremony, commending nurses as essential to the foundation of healthcare systems worldwide.
Launched in 2021 by Aster DM Healthcare, the Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award honours exceptional nurses in areas such as leadership, innovation, research and community service. The 2025 award cycle saw a 28% increase in applications compared to the previous year.
“Nurse Naomi Ohene Oti has redefined what it means to be a nurse – not just as a caregiver but as an innovator, leader and changemaker,” said Dr. Azad Moopen, founder of Aster DM Healthcare.
Nine other finalists from countries including Switzerland, Papua New Guinea, the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, the United States, Kenya, Malaysia and India were also recognised. Finalists were selected through a rigorous process led by Ernst & Young LLP and evaluated by two separate juries.
Organisers say the award highlights not only individual excellence but also the global importance of nursing in advancing public health, especially in underserved communities.