The University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) has hosted a capacity-building session for participants of the Oncology Nursing Leadership Programme (ONLEP) and the university’s student body, focusing on preparing nurses to take up leadership roles in specialised cancer care.

The event, dubbed the ONLEP Fireside Leadership Chat, was designed to expose oncology nurses to real-life leadership experiences, enhance their professional networks, and build their capacity for impactful leadership.

ONLEP is a collaborative initiative introduced in partnership with UHAS, City Cancer Challenge (C/Can), the International Society of Nurses in Cancer Care (ISNCC), and AMGEN, a leading biotechnology and pharmaceutical organisation.

City Cancer Challenge (C/Can) is a global multi-stakeholder consortium committed to delivering customised solutions for cancer care, while ISNCC promotes the role and leadership of nurses in improving cancer care delivery.

Speaking at the event, the Vice Chancellor of UHAS, Professor Lydia Aziato, underscored the importance of empowering nurses to lead within the oncology field. “Recognising the crucial role of nurses in cancer care, ONLEP was introduced to consolidate the gains made so far and provide strong leadership within this specialised field,” she said.

Prof. Aziato further explained that the programme aims to train oncology nurses to:

• Develop strong foundations in leadership
• Gain an in-depth understanding of health services organisation, financial management, and quality assurance.
• Integrate psycho-oncology, stress, and change management into practice
• Acquire skills in networking, collaboration, and research
• Use evidence to guide oncology nursing practice
• Develop and review policies, and engage in advocacy within oncology care

The guest speaker, Professor Dora Francisca Edu-Buandoh, former Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, shared her personal leadership journey, highlighting the challenges and motivations that propelled her into leadership roles within academia.

She encouraged participants to build confidence and harness emotional intelligence, negotiation, and communication skills as they prepare for leadership in oncology nursing.

“Team building, strategic thinking, project management, and conflict resolution are all critical leadership skills,” Prof. Edu-Buandoh advised.

She also warned against allowing gender stereotypes, unconscious bias, and social barriers to hinder professional growth.

“Work on leadership values. Demonstrate a strong work ethic and discipline. Be consistent, innovative, and encourage creative risk-taking and continual improvement—but above all, maintain your integrity,” she said.

Prof. Edu-Buandoh concluded with a powerful call to action:

“Build trust, be ethical and transparent even under pressure, be resilient—bounce back from adversity and failures—be courageous, be principled, and take bold decisions.”

The ONLEP Fireside Leadership Chat forms part of ongoing efforts to develop the next generation of oncology nurse leaders, capable of driving cancer care excellence across Ghana and beyond.