Gabriel Akake
Dakar
Summary
Digital Communication and Social Media Specialist with over eight (8) years of experience supporting donor-funded development programs and public institutions in West Africa, with a strong focus on gender equality and women’s empowerment. Proven ability to design and implement multi-platform digital communication strategies, produce impactful advocacy and storytelling content, and translate complex development results into clear, accessible narratives for diverse audiences. Experienced in results-based communication, performance analytics, and conflict-sensitive messaging, with a demonstrated commitment to inclusive communication. Fluent in French, English and Wolof.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Strategy Director
DIOKO GROUP
Dakar
12.2024 - Current
- Shaped and executed Dioko Group's growth roadmap across marketing, branding, communications, and fintech expansion.
- Growth Strategy: Developed and executed comprehensive strategies across marketing, communications, product positioning, and brand development.
- Drove strategic partnerships, scaling the company's flagship app from 17,000 to over 70,000 users through targeted initiatives and collaborations.
- Strategic Partnerships: Managed high-value partnerships to boost brand visibility and accelerate business expansion.
- Cross-Functional Leadership: Led strategic initiatives to enhance market positioning, operational performance, and cross-department coordination.
- Led organizational restructuring, ensured regulatory compliance, and recruited key talent across technical and operational teams to enhance overall capabilities.
- Talent Recruitment and Management: Recruited and managed key specialists in technology, software development, and operations, strengthening the company's organizational structure.
- National Expansion: Secured institutional partnerships with governors and mayors across Senegal, negotiated marketing agreements with national league football teams, and engaged with major cultural events and stakeholders.
Communication Officer
CRS (Catholic Relief Services)
Senegal
04.2023 - 11.2024
- Communication Strategy: Led the implementation of a communication plan aligned with CRS and USAID guidelines, enhancing project visibility and supporting peace and reintegration efforts in Casamance.
- Executed communication strategy for USAID/ALIWILI II Extension project, enhancing project outreach and engagement.
- Planned and executed awareness campaigns targeting former combatants, their families, and host communities, fostering community reintegration.
- Storytelling and Documentation: Created success stories and documented project activities through photos, videos, and reports to showcase impact.
- Media and Event Management: Managed logistics and media coverage for key events, promoting project activities locally and internationally.
- Produced a video report for the donor agency to showcase project progress.
- Field Missions and Evaluation: Conducted field missions for direct beneficiary engagement, monitoring, and evaluation.
Regional Web & Communication Officer
SFL International - USDA
Senegal
06.2020 - 08.2021
- Implemented and orchestrated the comprehensive digital and on-site communication strategy for the LIFFT-Cashew project.
- Designed and implemented a comprehensive digital and on-site communication strategy to strengthen project visibility across Senegal, The Gambia, and Guinea-Bissau.
- Developed and executed a structured communication plan using Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 to ensure consistent messaging and reporting across platforms.
- Implemented advanced SEO and digital advertising strategies (on-page, off-page, SEA) using All in One SEO, Google Ads, Facebook Ads, Google Analytics, and Google Webmaster Tools to optimize online visibility.
- Managed and animated social media channels and digital campaigns using Hootsuite, driving targeted awareness and engagement among cashew producers in project intervention areas.
- Led the creation, maintenance, and content management of the project website using WordPress, ensuring accessibility, relevance, and alignment with donor visibility requirements.
- Coordinated events, B2B engagements, and field missions, including media relations, reporting, and digital promotion, supported by Trello, Canva, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe InDesign.
Web & ERP Manager
Kap Expertise International
Dakar
05.2019 - 05.2020
- Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Web Development, and Digital Marketing Proficiency.
- Website Management: Conceptualized, designed, and managed ongoing maintenance of company website (www.kap-expertise.com) to ensure optimal performance and user engagement.
- Implemented strategic SEO techniques and facilitated Search Engine Advertising campaigns to enhance online visibility.
- Content Creation and Advertising: Developed content creation initiatives and executed advertising campaigns that significantly enhanced brand presence.
- ERP Redesign Leadership: Led complete redesign of ERP software on Odoo platform, ensuring seamless integration and customization of invoicing, cash register, and accounting modules.
- Utilized Odoo ERP and various programming languages including Python, HTML5, and CSS3 to develop and manage software solutions.
Web & Communication Manager
Centre National de Qualification Professionnelle (CNQP)
Dakar
01.2018 - 04.2019
- Conceptualized, designed, and managed maintenance of official website www.cnqp.org.
- Applied strategic SEO techniques and facilitated search engine advertising campaigns to optimize online presence.
- Executed content creation initiatives and advertising campaigns to boost engagement and visibility.
- Leveraged web development skills to enhance internal communication strategies.
- Configured internal communication systems using Microsoft Office tools to improve organizational efficiency.
- Utilized Python, HTML5, CSS3, SASS, JSON, JavaScript, Liquid, Jekyll, Git, GitHub, GitHub Pages, Linux, and Forestry effectively.
Full Stack Web Developer
Top Menu Quebec
Montréal
09.2015 - 09.2017
- Led development and implementation of MVC web application using CakePHP, creating flexible CMS with intuitive admin interface.
- Developed robust web applications utilizing PHP, HTML5, CSS3, and SASS to ensure strong functionality.
- Managed maintenance and enhancement of TopMenu.com web application by integrating new back-end functionalities.
- Collaborated with designers to align front-end development with design objectives, enhancing user engagement.
- Implemented SEO strategies to improve online visibility and executed targeted advertising initiatives to increase traffic.
Full Stack Web Developer
Club Electronique
Montréal
06.2014 - 06.2015
- Designed and maintained e-commerce platform clubelectronic.ca to create a seamless online shopping experience.
- Implemented strategic SEO methodologies that improved search engine rankings and increased organic traffic.
- Executed digital marketing campaigns and managed search engine advertising to drive targeted traffic.
- Handled administrative tasks efficiently, ensuring optimal platform functionality and performance.
- Oversaw content management, maintaining up-to-date product information and consistent user interface.
Full Stack Web Developer Intern
LARIM Laboratory / Ericsson Research
Montréal
03.2012 - 11.2012
- Conducted detailed analysis and created technical specifications to guide project development.
- Developed Java/JEE application in Eclipse using Sinalgo MVC2 framework for network applications.
- Designed algorithms and utilized UML modeling techniques to establish a robust project framework.
- Performed rigorous performance testing and simulations within Sinalgo environment to ensure optimal functionality.
- Created user documentation, including user guide and functional test benches for application adoption.
- Implemented messaging service in ad-hoc vehicular network.
- Utilized tools such as Ubuntu, Java/JEE, XML, Perl, SQL, Eclipse, and Gantt for project execution.
Education
Engineering Degree - Master Degree
ESIGELEC
Rouen, France02.2013
Skills
- Digital Communication Strategy (MS Word, PowerPoint, MS Teams, Hootsuite)
- Social Media Management & Campaign Execution (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X, Hootsuite, Meta Business Suite)
- Content Creation & Multimedia Production (Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere Pro, Canva)
- Gender-Sensitive & Inclusive Communication (N/A – intégration des principes de genre et inclusion dans tous les contenus)
- Stakeholder Engagement & Community Management (MS Teams, Zoom, email platforms, social media channels)
- Monitoring, Evaluation & Performance Analytics (Google Analytics, Meta Insights, Hootsuite Analytics, Excel)
- Project Management & Prioritization (Trello, MS Project, Excel, Google Workspace)
- Knowledge Management & Documentation (MS Word, SharePoint, Google Drive, CMS platforms)
- Technical & Software Proficiency (WordPress, HTML/CSS, SEO tools, CMS, Adobe Suite, Canva)
- Effective Collaboration & Teamwork (MS Teams, Zoom, Slack, email, collaborative cloud platforms)
Certification
- Engineer- Ordre des Ingenieurs du Quebec, 04/01/16, Canada
- Artificial Intelligence - Advanced Digital Marketing Certificate, Google Developers, 01/01/23, USA
Hobbies and Interests
- Sports
- Travels
- Books
- Music
Languages
- Anglais, Fluent
- Francais, Fluent
- Wolof, Fluent
Timeline
Strategy Director
DIOKO GROUP
12.2024 - Current
Communication Officer
CRS (Catholic Relief Services)
04.2023 - 11.2024
Regional Web & Communication Officer
SFL International - USDA
06.2020 - 08.2021
Web & ERP Manager
Kap Expertise International
05.2019 - 05.2020
Web & Communication Manager
Centre National de Qualification Professionnelle (CNQP)
01.2018 - 04.2019
Full Stack Web Developer
Top Menu Quebec
09.2015 - 09.2017
Full Stack Web Developer
Club Electronique
06.2014 - 06.2015
Full Stack Web Developer Intern
LARIM Laboratory / Ericsson Research
03.2012 - 11.2012
Engineering Degree - Master Degree
ESIGELEC