The Global Leadership, Innovation and Development Academy (GLIDA) has been officially launched in Accra to strengthen practical skills development and prepare business executives, entrepreneurs, diplomats and emerging leaders for the demands of the workplace and global leadership.
The academy, founded by Riffath-Yakub Abubakar, aims to bridge the gap between conventional academic education and the practical competencies required in leadership, corporate management, entrepreneurship, diplomacy, governance, innovation and development.
Speaking during the official launch, Mr Abubakar said the initiative was the culmination of a vision conceived in 2018 and refined over eight years through research, professional experience, mentorship, partnerships and engagement with industry leaders.
He said GLIDA was established to formalise and broaden access to professional competencies that many individuals often acquire through workplace experience, executive workshops, industry conferences, mentorship and professional certifications.
“GLIDA is not here to compete, GLIDA is here to bridge the gaps,” he said, emphasising the academy’s commitment to collaboration with educational institutions, governments, industry leaders and development partners.
Mr Abubakar observed that many professionals assume leadership positions, manage institutions, oversee projects, negotiate partnerships and influence policy without having received formal training in some of the competencies required for those responsibilities.
He said the academy would address the challenge through a structured ecosystem of professional training, executive development, innovation and leadership advancement, with certification awards.
Industry-academia collaboration
The GLIDA founder said the academy’s mission aligned with concerns about the growing disconnect between educational systems and employers’ skills requirements.
Referring to a World Bank research article he received on 19 June 2026, titled “39% of Core Skills Will Change by 2030. Industry Must Act,” he highlighted the importance of industry participation in skills development and collaboration between educational institutions and businesses.
He cited the need for industry to help co-design skills training, including through artificial intelligence certifications and university-company partnerships, while ensuring that informal workers and vulnerable groups were not excluded.
Mr Abubakar said educational institutions and specialised capacity-building organisations needed to work together to prepare learners for changing workplace requirements.
He identified soft skills, leadership competencies, practical exposure, industry readiness, innovation and professional adaptability as priorities for developing a workforce capable of responding to emerging challenges.
“The future belongs to collaboration, not competition,” he said, inviting educational institutions, governments, industry leaders and development partners to work with GLIDA to address current skills gaps and develop sustainable solutions.
Targeting professionals across sectors
GLIDA is designed to serve business executives and corporate professionals, entrepreneurs and start-ups, government officials, diplomats, public-sector leaders, development practitioners, innovators and emerging and established global leaders.
According to Mr Abubakar, the academy’s approach combines learning, practical experience, industry exposure and strategic networking to connect knowledge with real-world application.
He said its programmes were designed around a global solutions approach, enabling participants to address practical challenges across industries and geographical boundaries.
The academy also intends to draw on a network of internationally experienced experts, practitioners and thought leaders to deliver training informed by professional experience, industry knowledge and global perspectives.
Call for enrolment and partnerships
Mr Abubakar invited professionals and institutions to join the academy, describing it as an ecosystem intended to complement existing educational and professional development structures rather than compete with them.
He said GLIDA sought to contribute to human capital development across business, governance, diplomacy, technology, entrepreneurship, finance, media and social impact.
The academy is accessible through its website, www.glida-edu.org, where prospective learners can explore its industry-tailored programmes.
Mr Abubakar said the institution was established to prepare individuals and organisations not merely to respond to change, but to lead it, amid evolving industries and growing demands for practical expertise, innovation, adaptability and global competence.
