A delegation of senior officials from the University of Professional Studies, Accra(UPSA), has paid a courtesy visit to former South African President Jacob Zuma at his Nkandla Village residence in the KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa.
The visit on Friday, November 21, 2025, was to formally express the University’s gratitude to the former President for honouring UPSA’s invitation and delivering the keynote address at the 2025 UPSA Annual Leadership Lecture held in Accra in August.
The UPSA delegation was led by the Chairman of the Governing Council, Dr. Harry Lawson Kwaku Agbanu. Other members of the delegation included the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. John Kwaku Mensah Mawutor, and the Director of Administration, Dr. Edward Bannerman-Wood.
Former President Zuma warmly welcomed the delegation and expressed his appreciation for the hospitality and reception he received from UPSA and the people of Ghana during his recent visit for the leadership lecture.
He described his engagement with the university community as memorable and reaffirmed his admiration for Ghana’s role in Africa’s intellectual and political development.
Speaking on behalf of the University, Prof. Mawutor explained that the visit was to formally convey UPSA’s appreciation for Mr Zuma’s insightful perspectives on BRICS and global economic transformation.
He noted that the former President’s lecture offered critical perspectives on Africa’s place in emerging global power structures and underscored the importance of strategic economic alliances for the continent’s future.
Mr Zuma was the keynote speaker at the 2025 UPSA Annual Leadership Lecture, which was held under the theme “The geopolitics and geo-economics of de-dollarisation: BRICS currency strategy, lessons for Africa’s common currency and
beyond.”
His address highlighted unity, strategic collaboration, and strong leadership as essential pillars for Africa’s advancement in an increasingly multipolar world.
The Vice-Chancellor stated that the BRICS-focused lecture provided students, academics, and policymakers with more profound insights into shifting global power dynamics and the strategic relevance of Africa’s participation in emerging
international coalitions.
The UPSA Annual Leadership Lecture series, instituted in 2017, continues to serve as a high-level platform for engaging global leaders on issues affecting Africa, business, governance, and society.
