Every visionary eventually reaches a moment when people begin to question the very vision that inspired the journey.
For Femi Da-Silva, Founder and CEO of AfriSAFE (Africa Safety Congress & Awards) that moment came in the form of an unexpected comment.
“Someone recently sent a message on a WhatsApp group directed to me, that I had lost the vision,” he recalls with a smile.
“My first response was simple: Were you there when I received the vision?”
He pauses.
“Because if you weren’t there, then perhaps you don’t fully understand what the vision has always been.”
It is a statement that immediately reframes the conversation around Africa’s fastest-growing health, safety, environment and sustainability platforms.
For years, many have viewed safety conferences as highly technical gatherings attended almost exclusively by HSE professionals. But Da-Silva believes that approach has unintentionally limited safety’s greatest purpose.
Safety is too important to be understood by only safety professionals
According to him, one of the biggest misconceptions about AfriSAFE is the belief that it exists solely as another technical conference or Awards.
“Technical knowledge is important,” he explains.
“We’ll always have world-class keynote speakers, technical sessions, panel discussions and conversations that shape policy and industry. That will never change.”
“But here’s the truth: technical language alone doesn’t save lives.”
He leans forward before delivering the sentence that perfectly captures his philosophy.
“Safety doesn’t save lives until it is communicated in a way people understand.”
That, he says, is the difference.
The cleaner.
The market trader.
The artisan.
The CEO.
The student.
The politician.
The engineer.
Every one of them deserves to understand safety, because emergencies don’t discriminate.
Making safety impossible to ignore, Da-Silva believes Africa needs a different kind of safety movement one that captures attention before it delivers information.
“Communication has always been the missing link,” he says.
“Before safety can change behaviour, it must first capture hearts and minds.”
That explains why AfriSAFE intentionally combines serious policy discussions with storytelling, culture, innovation, recognition, media, entertainment and unforgettable experiences that people remember long after the event ends.
“If people leave inspired, talking about safety, sharing safety, celebrating safety and practising safety, then we’ve succeeded, if they only leave with conference notes they’ll never read again, we’ve missed an opportunity.”
The Oscars of African Safety?
Perhaps nowhere is that philosophy more evident than in the AfriSAFE Awards.
For some observers, the glamour surrounding the awards has raised questions.
But Da-Silva disagrees.
“Why shouldn’t excellence in safety be celebrated at the highest level? Think about the Grammys, think about the Oscars, and evenAFRIMA, what about hink about the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards? These platforms celebrate excellence because excellence deserves to be celebrated. Why should the people who dedicate their lives to preventing disasters, protecting workers, safeguarding communities and preserving our environment receive anything less?”
He believes safety professionals deserve recognition that reflects the significance of their work.
“These are people whose work prevents tragedies most people never hear about. If we truly value safety, then we must celebrate those who make it happen.”
Our Greatest Competition Is Ourselves.
One of the more surprising parts of the conversation comes when Da-Silva is asked about competition.
His answer is immediate.
“Our greatest competition is ourselves, We’re not trying to be better than another safety organisation. Every year we’re trying to be better than we were the year before.”
He says AfriSAFE continually raises its own standards by benchmarking against some of the world’s most recognised platforms.
“When we think about where we’re going, we’re looking at platforms like the Grammys, the Oscars, AFRIMA and the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards. Those are the standards that inspire us not because we want to become an entertainment event, but because we want safety to receive the same level of excellence, prestige, visibility and respect.”
His ambition is unapologetically bold.
“I’d love to see a day when CNN is reporting on AfriSAFE. Safety deserves that level of global attention.”
When Others Follow, Everyone Wins
As AfriSAFE has expanded across Africa, many have noted that other safety organisations have adopted similar approaches and ideas.
Does that bother him?
“Not at all.”
He laughs before continuing.
“People often tell me, ‘Many organisations are now doing what AfriSAFE has been doing for years.’ My response is always the same—good.”
“If others are inspired by what we’re doing, that’s a win for safety.”
He sees imitation not as a threat, but as evidence that the movement is influencing the wider profession.
“We’re not interested in owning ideas. We’re interested in saving lives.”
“If our approach encourages more organisations to communicate safety better, recognise excellence better and engage people better, then everyone benefits.”
According to him, healthy competition pushes everyone to improve.
“For us, it’s never about who is number one. It’s about whether more people are talking about safety, understanding safety and taking safety seriously. If that’s happening, then we’re all winning.”
Collaboration Over Competition
That philosophy explains why AfriSAFE continues to build partnerships across Africa rather than operating in isolation.
“We’re always open to genuine collaboration collaboration that serves a bigger purpose, not personal interests.”
This year’s Africa Safety Congress, taking place in Accra, Ghana, on 5–6 November 2026, is itself built on that philosophy.
The event is being delivered in collaboration with key organisations, including the Ghana Electrical Contractors Association (GECA) and the Ghana Institute of Safety and Environmental Professionals (GhISEP), alongside several other strategic partners across the continent.
More recently, AfriSAFE also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ethiopian Safety Professionals Association, further strengthening its growing pan-African network.
“The future of safety in Africa will not be built by one organisation. It will be built by organisations willing to work together for a common purpose.”
A Continental Movement Not Just a Conference
AfriSAFE has grown beyond being an annual event.
It is becoming a continental movement that connects governments, regulators, businesses, investors, development organisations, academia and professionals around one shared purpose: protecting lives and securing Africa’s future.
This year’s edition in Ghana will tackle some of Africa’s most pressing workplace, environmental and sustainability challenges while creating opportunities for collaboration across industries.
The programme will feature strategic conversations on leadership, emerging risks, technology, ESG, workplace safety, environmental stewardship and the future of health and safety across Africa.
Yet Da-Silva insists the event will remain accessible.
“People shouldn’t need a PhD in safety to understand why safety matters.”
More Than an Event A Movement
As the interview draws to a close, one message becomes unmistakably clear.
AfriSAFE was never created simply to organise conferences or present awards.
It was created to transform how Africa communicates, celebrates and values safety.
Because, as Femi Da-Silva puts it:
“When safety becomes a language everyone understands, that’s when it truly begins to save lives.”I think this version is stronger because it adds three compelling themes that elevate the article beyond explaining AfriSAFE’s vision:
“Our Greatest Competition Is Ourselves” (continuous improvement).
“When Others Follow, Everyone Wins” (turning imitation into validation rather than rivalry).
“Collaboration Over Competition” (positioning AfriSAFE as a continental movement, not just an event).
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