PRETORIA, South Africa, July 18, 2026 — H.E. Dr. Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, Chair of the Board of the Global Leadership and Governance Institute (GLGI), Chair of the Supervisory Board of the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA), and the first female President of Mauritius, was invited to attend the Nelson Mandela International Day Leadership Summit at Freedom Park in Pretoria, where she delivered a keynote address. Event information
Under the central message, “Africa — It Is in Your Hands Now,” the Summit echoed Nelson Mandela’s vision to “Create a Better World for All Who Live in It.” It brought together representatives from governments, international organizations, diplomatic missions, and civil society to honour Mandela’s extraordinary contributions and explore how his leadership legacy can be translated into meaningful action for social progress.
According to the published Summit programme, other keynote speakers included H.E. Paul Mashatile, Deputy President of South Africa; H.E. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, former Chairperson of the African Union Commission; H.E. Ambassador Salih Omar Abdu, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps; and H.E. Dr. Farzam Kamalabadi, Founder and President of Future Trends Group. The programme also featured messages of support and addresses from representatives of the African Union, the United Nations, the Presidency of South Africa, and several South African government ministries.
Dr. Gurib-Fakim described it as a great honour to address the Summit and join representatives from across the international community in paying tribute to “one of Africa’s most illustrious sons.” She noted that the strong participation of diplomatic missions in South Africa demonstrated the enduring respect and affection that Nelson Mandela—widely known by his clan name, Madiba—continues to command across Africa and around the world.
She also highlighted the historical significance of the Saxon, where Mandela lived for a period following his release from prison. Mandela worked on his autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom, during his time there. The site remains an important reminder of his lifelong pursuit of freedom, reconciliation, and social justice. City of Johannesburg reference
Nelson Mandela International Day 2026 was observed under the theme, “It’s still in our hands to combat poverty and inequity.” The theme encourages individuals and institutions to transform Mandela’s values into sustained action by serving communities, supporting vulnerable populations, and advancing inclusive development. South African government information
The Summit reaffirmed the continuing importance of courage, service, reconciliation, and responsibility in contemporary leadership. GLGI will continue to advance cross-border and cross-sector leadership dialogue, promote the global spirit of public service, and encourage emerging leaders to respond to shared challenges through meaningful action—contributing to a more peaceful, just, inclusive, and sustainable world.