On November 15th, the Mövenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra transformed from a standard event venue into the epicenter of a digital revolution. West Africa Dreamin’ (WAD) 2025, the region’s premier community-led Salesforce event, concluded its activities on Sunday, November 16th, leaving behind more than just memories; it established a definitive blueprint for how local talent and global technology can converge to drive Africa’s digital future.
For an ecosystem often viewed solely as a talent pool for outsourcing, WAD 2025 shifted the narrative. The message was clear: West Africa is not just adopting technology; it is innovating with it.
The commitment of the West African community and other communities was visible long before the first keynote. A convoy of over 50 Trailblazers embarked on a grueling 13-hour road trip from Lagos (joined by attendees from Ibadan, Ondo, Abuja, and Jos), Liberia, Ethiopia, and Côte d’Ivoire. They converged in Accra with some attendees flying in from Canada, Germany, France, the UK and USA, underscoring the grit that defines this ecosystem.
“We didn’t just come to exchange business cards,” said Richard GOH, one attendee from Côte d’Ivoire. “We came to build the infrastructure of our careers.”
Friday: Breaking the ice on the pitch
Before the badges and blazers, there were jerseys and cleats. The weekend kicked off on Friday at La Town Park with a high-energy football match designed to dissolve the hierarchy between executives and community members.
The friendly rivalry set the tone for the weekend:
- The Women’s Match: The Red team edged out the Blue with a decisive goal.
- The Men’s Match: The Community members led by Davies Ngere struck tactically, defeating the Sponsors/Speakers team 2-1.
It wasn’t just about the score; it was about building bonds that would translate into business conversations the next day.
Saturday: The core event
Saturday morning at the Mövenpick was electric. The day opened not with corporate jargon, but with Segun “Don Dada” De Silva, whose keynote was a masterclass in authenticity. He challenged the room to “talk your talk” and build meaningful connections, sharing his own backstory of resilience.
In a twist that highlighted the region’s unique cultural approach to tech, the keynote was followed by a solo poetry performance by Henry Imafidon. His verses painted a picture of Africa’s technological history, reminding attendees that their innovation is rooted in a culture of resilience.
Deep dives and strategy
The agenda moved beyond surface-level buzzwords, featuring a powerhouse panel with Nell Paye, Ed Thompson, Tunde Mosaku, and Olu Obembe.
Breakout sessions were hyper-localized, addressing specific African challenges:
- Real-World Impact: Sessions like “CRM for Humanity” led by Millian Onwuegbusi explored using Salesforce Intelligence to tackle the housing deficit.
- AI for Africa: Jude Umeh led discussions on getting started with AI data use cases relevant to local markets.
- Career Growth: Jennifer Ndlovu and Ko Forte led masterclasses on breaking into the ecosystem and launching careers as Business Analysts.
Beyond the conference hall: Impact & bonding
WAD 2025 distinguished itself by balancing professional growth with social impact and deep community bonding.
The Impact: Partnering with Bridge IT and Culture Beyond Borders (CBB), the “Art And Service” initiative saw attendees travel to the Tetrefu Technical Institute in Kumasi. Volunteers constructed and painted 30 new desks, provided 15 beds, and designed a vibrant mural; proving that for this community, “building the future” is a hands-on responsibility.
The Bonding: The weekend concluded on Sunday with a retreat to Aqua Safari. Far from the conference halls, attendees engaged in boat cruises, horse riding, and reflection. It was here, over sunset dinners, that the real “network” was solidified, transforming professional contacts into lifelong peers.
The result: A unified force
WAD 2025 successfully consolidated the fragmented Salesforce communities of West Africa into a unified, potent force. The event achieved three critical outcomes:
- Skills Transfer: Bridging the gap between novice users and certified experts through intensive, practical workshops.
- Direct Access: Removing barriers between African professionals and Global Tech leadership (including three visiting Salesforce VPs; Olu Obembe, Shea Lewis and Ed Thompson).
- Social Impact: Proving that tech conferences can drive direct community development through initiatives like the Kumasi project.
As the buses return to their various destinations, and flights depart Accra, the focus shifts to execution. The connections made this WAD’25 weekend are already spawning new mentorship circles and cross-border collaborations. For the West African Salesforce ecosystem, the dream isn’t just beginning; it’s already being built.
