The Global Leadership, Innovation and Development Academy (GLIDA) opened in Accra on Friday, 16 October 2026, with a launch event held at the High Commission of Malaysia. The academy aims to equip professionals with practical skills in leadership, entrepreneurship, diplomacy, innovation and governance, addressing a long‑standing disconnect between conventional education and workplace demands.
Founder and President Riffath‑Yakub Abubakar, speaking at the ceremony, explained that GLIDA was conceived in 2018 and took eight years of research, consultation, mentorship and engagement with professionals across sectors to reach its current form. He said the initiative would formalise, structure and democratise access to competencies that are often only acquired through on‑the‑job experience, executive workshops or professional certifications.
GLIDA’s programmes target business executives, corporate professionals, entrepreneurs, start‑ups, public sector leaders, development practitioners, aspiring diplomats and innovators. The training model will combine classroom learning with practical experience, industry exposure and professional networking, allowing participants to apply new knowledge to real‑world challenges.
Abubakar urged universities, governments, industry leaders and development organisations to partner with the academy, stating that GLIDA intends to complement existing educational institutions. “At GLIDA, we believe that the future belongs to collaboration, not competition,” he said.
Enrollment is now open, and GLIDA aims to prepare individuals and institutions not only to respond to change, but to lead it.
