The Global Leadership, Innovation and Development Academy (GLIDA) has been launched in Accra to equip professionals with practical skills in leadership, entrepreneurship, diplomacy, innovation and governance.
Speaking at the launch at the High Commission of Malaysia on Friday, 16 October 2026, GLIDA’s Founder and President, Riffath-Yakub Abubakar, said the academy would address gaps between conventional education and the competencies required in professional life.
He said the initiative, conceived in 2018, had taken eight years to develop through research, consultation, mentorship and engagement with professionals across different sectors.
“What unfolded was a clear realisation: there is a significant disconnect between conventional teaching and the practical competencies required to thrive in leadership, corporate management, entrepreneurship, diplomacy, innovation, governance, and development,” he said.
According to Mr Abubakar, professionals often assume responsibilities for managing institutions, negotiating partnerships, directing projects and influencing policy without having received formal training in those areas.
He noted that such skills had traditionally been acquired through workplace experience, executive workshops, professional certifications and mentorship.
GLIDA, he explained, would provide structured training and certification to make these competencies more accessible.
“GLIDA has been established to formalise, structure, and democratise access to these critical competencies,” he said.
The academy’s programmes target business executives, corporate professionals, entrepreneurs, start-ups, public sector leaders, development practitioners, aspiring diplomats and innovators.
Mr Abubakar said its training model would combine learning with practical experience, industry exposure and professional networking, helping participants apply their knowledge to challenges across sectors.
He stressed that GLIDA intended to complement the work of existing educational institutions and called for partnerships with universities, governments, industry leaders and development organisations.
“At GLIDA, we believe that the future belongs to collaboration, not competition,” he said.
He added that leadership development, soft skills, innovation and professional adaptability needed greater attention as workplace demands continued to change.
The academy, he said, would draw on a network of experienced practitioners and experts to deliver programmes informed by industry needs and global perspectives.
Announcing that enrolment was open, Mr Abubakar encouraged professionals and institutions to participate in the academy’s programmes.
“GLIDA exists to prepare individuals and institutions not only to respond to change, but to lead it,” he said.