Naomi Oyoe Ohene Oti recieving the award
Ghana’s Naomi Oyoe Ohene Oti has been named the winner of the 2025 Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award, triumphing over more than 100,000 applicants from 199 countries.
This prestigious international honour recognises outstanding nurses making exceptional contributions to global healthcare, and Naomi’s selection marks a momentous achievement for both Ghana and the African continent.
Naomi is a trailblazing oncology nurse leader whose work has transformed cancer care, education, and research across Africa. She played a pioneering role in establishing Ghana’s first formal oncology nursing training programme, which has already produced over 60 oncology nurse specialists and 10 breast care nurses. Her influence extends beyond Ghana’s borders. Through her involvement in international initiatives such as the Global Bridges Oncology Grant and the Education and Training Committee of the African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC), Naomi has helped shape policy, improve care standards, and mentor over 48 oncology nurses from across the continent.
Her dedication to building the capacity of cancer nursing has helped position nurses as a central pillar in Africa’s cancer response—a vision that is beginning to take shape under her leadership.
In her deeply moving acceptance speech at the award ceremony, Naomi reflected on the path that led her to this moment. “Seeing the immense potential of nurses to lead transformative change, my passion for oncology nursing was born out of a desire to bridge this gap and deliver compassionate, high-quality care to those who need it most,” she said. “This award affirms that dream and empowers me to do even more. It is more than a recognition; it is a catalyst for lasting change.”
She emphasized that the honour was not hers alone, but one that she shared with every patient she has cared for, every nurse she has mentored, and every colleague who has joined her in the pursuit of equitable cancer care. Her speech was also a moment of gratitude, as she extended heartfelt thanks to the Government of Ghana, particularly the Minister of Health, for creating an enabling environment for healthcare professionals; the CEO and staff of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and the National Radiotherapy Oncology and Nuclear Medicine Center, her professional home; and professional nursing bodies such as the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association, the Ghana Diaspora Nurses Association, and her spiritual family at the Church of Pentecost.
She also paid tribute to her mentors, colleagues, and family—including her husband and their three children—for their love, sacrifice, and unwavering support.
Looking to the future, Naomi announced her commitment to expanding her work, including completing the African Cancer Nurses Competencies Framework, launching a cancer genetic counseling program, establishing an educational scholarship fund, and creating an African Leadership Academy for Cancer Nurses. “This initiative will build capacity, strengthen systems, and ensure that quality cancer care is a right, not a privilege,” she stated with conviction.
Naomi concluded with a powerful call to action for the global nursing community: “To every nurse listening—your hands heal, your voice advocates, your heart leaps. Together, we are shaping the future. One patient, one moment, one act of courage at a time. Thank you very much. May God richly bless you all.”
Her victory is not only a personal milestone but a moment of pride for Ghana and Africa at large. It is a shining example of what vision, compassion, and relentless commitment can achieve—and a reminder of the power nurses hold to drive meaningful change in global health.
