Naomi Oyoe Ohene Oti, a distinguished oncology nurse from Ghana, has been named the winner of the prestigious Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award 2025, receiving a grand prize of $250,000 at a glittering ceremony in Dubai.
The 48-year-old mother-of-three emerged victorious from an astounding 100,000 applicants across 199 countries, a testament to her transformative contributions in patient care, specialist nursing education, and cancer equity in Ghana.
Oti was honored by Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, alongside Sushmita Sen, former Miss Universe and acclaimed Indian actress celebrated for her advocacy of women’s health and empowerment.
As an Oncology Nurse Specialist and Head of Nursing at the National Radiotherapy Oncology and Nuclear Medicine Centre, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Oti has pioneered several groundbreaking initiatives. In partnership with Cross Cancer Institute in Canada, she has developed and launched oncology nursing training programs, enhancing the expertise of Ghanaian nurses and significantly improving cancer patient outcomes.
Her impact is far-reaching. In 2015, she helped develop Ghana’s postgraduate oncology nursing curriculum, leading to the training of over 60 oncology nurse specialists and 10 breast care nurses, greatly strengthening the country’s specialized cancer care services.
Beyond Ghana, Oti is a key figure in continental health advancements, serving on the education and training committee of the African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC) and as a co-investigator for the Global Bridges Oncology GM Grant. She has collaborated on key initiatives with ISNCC and has shaped African cancer nursing competencies and policies, mentoring over 48 nurses across the continent.
Her global contributions include her role as faculty for ASCO’s Multidisciplinary Cancer Management Courses, where she brings African nursing perspectives to international cancer forums, advocating for culturally relevant care.
Her accolades include the Ministry of Health Excellence Award and the prestigious Dr. Dorcia Kisseh International Award from the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association.
Celebrating Nursing Excellence Globally
The grand award ceremony celebrated nine other finalists, attended by esteemed dignitaries including Dr Azad Moopen, Alisha Moopen, TJ Wilson (Aster DM Healthcare), Dr. Amin Hussain Al Amiri (Ministry of Health and Prevention), Sunjay Sudhir (Indian Ambassador to the UAE), and Satish Kumar Sivan (Consul General of India in Dubai).
A special highlight was a congratulatory message from Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), commending Aster DM Healthcare for championing nurses’ critical contributions worldwide.
The finalists recognized for their extraordinary contributions to nursing were:
Catherine (Kate) Maree Holliday – Switzerland
Edith Namba – Papua New Guinea
Fitz Gerald Dalina Camacho – UAE
Dr. Jed Ray Gengoba Montayre – Hong Kong SAR
Dr. Jose Arnold Tariga – USA
Khadija Mohamed Juma – Kenya
Maheswari Jaganathan – Malaysia
Dr. Sukhpal Kaur – India
Vibhaben Gunvantbhai Salaliya – India
A Legacy of Excellence
The Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award has recognized extraordinary nurses in previous years, with Margaret from the UK winning in 2023, and Maria Victoria Juan from the Philippines crowned the winner in 2024 in Bengaluru, India.
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