The High Commission of Malaysia in Ghana has pledged to support strategic collaboration between the Global Leadership, Innovation and Development Academy (GLIDA), Malaysian educational institutions and Ghanaian academic institutions to strengthen leadership development, innovation, governance and international cooperation.
‎‎The Chargé d’Affaires AI and High Commissioner of Malaysia in Ghana, HE Syed Nauzer Idid bin Syed Yusoff Idid, made the commitment during the official inauguration of GLIDA in Accra, where he highlighted opportunities for cooperation in executive leadership training, diplomacy, digitalisation, higher education and trade development.
‎‎He said the establishment of GLIDA aligned with Malaysia’s development priorities and provided a platform for sharing expertise and building leadership capacity across Ghana and Africa.
‎‎The High Commission identified five key areas for strategic collaboration: executive leadership and governance training; diplomatic and international relations exposure; innovation, digitalisation and technical and vocational education and training (TVET); higher education pathways and joint research initiatives; and trade and export readiness programmes for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
‎‎HE Syed Nauzer Idid said the academy’s inauguration marked the realisation of a vision he had discussed with GLIDA founder and president, Mr Riffath-Yakub Abubakar, during an earlier courtesy call.
‎‎He said he had been impressed by the team’s enthusiasm, foresight and strategic clarity, adding that the gathering of representatives from government, academia, industry and the diplomatic corps demonstrated the significance of the initiative.
‎‎The launch was attended by representatives of Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS) and the University of Malaya, whose participation, he said, affirmed Malaysia’s commitment to expanding educational cooperation with Ghana and Africa.
‎‎He described EMGS as playing a pivotal role in positioning Malaysia as a global education hub by providing affordable, quality higher education to international students, including Ghanaians.
‎He also highlighted the University of Malaya’s research excellence and academic reputation, saying its participation alongside GLIDA created opportunities for academic exchange and strengthened the academy’s institutional links with Malaysia’s education sector.
‎‎Alignment with Malaysia’s development framework
‎‎The Malaysian diplomat said GLIDA’s mandate in governance, diplomacy, business, leadership, innovation and sustainable development resonated with the Malaysia Madani framework championed by Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
‎‎The framework is anchored in six values: sustainability, prosperity, innovation, respect, trust and compassion.
‎‎According to him, these principles emphasise that economic advancement must be underpinned by human dignity, good governance and ethical leadership.
‎He said GLIDA was intended to go beyond awarding certificates by developing ethical, innovative and values-driven leaders capable of building resilient institutions across Ghana and Africa.
‎Promoting South-South cooperation
‎HE Syed Nauzer Idid described GLIDA’s inauguration as an example of South-South cooperation, emphasising the capacity of countries in the Global South to advance their development through shared knowledge, capacity-building and peer learning.
‎He cited the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP) as an avenue through which Malaysia had shared its development experience with thousands of professionals across Africa.
‎‎He said GLIDA could build on that approach by providing a platform for Malaysian expertise in export facilitation, technology and public policy to intersect with Ghanaian innovation, academic capacity and youth entrepreneurship.
‎Recognition of GLIDA pioneers
‎‎The High Commissioner commended Prof Dr Abdul Kabur bin Mohammed Ibrahim, founder and chief executive officer of the Malaysia Export Academy and a former Malaysian Trade Commissioner, for bringing more than three decades of international commercial experience to GLIDA’s faculty.
‎He said Prof Abdul Kabur’s involvement as a lecturer would help connect academic learning with practical trade experience.
‎‎He also praised Mr Abubakar for establishing GLIDA and his work through the National Students’ Achievement Awards Academy (NASAAG) and Third Star Events, which he said had impacted more than 10,000 young people.
‎HE Syed Nauzer Idid commended the GLIDA president’s determination to partner with the High Commission and host the launch at its premises, describing the initiative as a demonstration of vision and leadership.
‎He expressed optimism that cooperation among GLIDA, EMGS, the University of Malaya and Ghanaian academic institutions would create opportunities for leadership development, knowledge exchange and stronger educational and commercial links between Malaysia and Ghana.
