A Ghanaian nurse who transformed cancer care in her country has won the prestigious Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award 2025 in Dubai, taking home the grand prize of $250,000.

Naomi Oyoe Ohene Oti, 48, was selected from more than 100,000 applicants representing 199 countries. The award ceremony took place on Monday in Dubai, where she was honoured by Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, and Bollywood actress and women’s health advocate Sushmita Sen.

A mother of three, Oti has spent over two decades improving patient care in oncology, training nurses, and advocating for equal access to cancer services across Ghana and Africa. Dressed in traditional attire, she accepted the award with an emotional message of hope and resilience.

Oti plans to use the prize money to scale up oncology nurse training, standardise education, support leadership development, and fund scholarships for nurses across Africa. Her selection, along with Kenya’s Khadija Mohamed Juma, marks a significant moment for African healthcare excellence on the global stage. 

Dr Azad Moopen, Founder Chairman of Aster DM Healthcare, praised the impact of the two African finalists.

“Their stories demonstrate extraordinary courage, innovation, and commitment to community health, whether it’s transforming cancer care or revolutionising blood donation systems.

The remaining nine finalists, including nurses from the UAE, India, the US, Switzerland, Kenya, and Papua New Guinea, were also recognised for their contributions to healthcare. Finalists were selected through a rigorous evaluation process led by Ernst & Young and a panel of global healthcare experts.

These nurses are redefining leadership in healthcare,” he said.

Launched in 2021 by Aster DM Healthcare, the award honours nurses who demonstrate excellence in leadership, research, innovation, and community service.