The verdict in three sentences
In Thiès, an office assistant spends much of the week writing letters, minutes and keeping tracking tables, tasks where generative AI saves time provided you know how to talk to it. Without a method, ChatGPT or Gemini give answers that are too long, vague or wrong, and you end up redoing everything by hand. Kolonell Academy's level 2 course (10 h, 50,000 FCFA) sets up a working system with AI that aims for 2 to 4 hours saved per week, more for writing-heavy positions.
The assistant tasks AI really speeds up
In a town hall, a transport company, a school or an SME in Thiès, the volume of writing is high and repetitive. AI does not replace your judgement: it produces a first draft that you check, correct and sign.
| Weekly task | Time without AI (order of magnitude) | Time with an AI method | What remains your job |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 formal letters and emails | 3 h 30 | 1 h 30 | Check names, dates, amounts |
| 2 meeting minutes | 2 h | 45 min | Validate the decisions recorded |
| Summary of a 40-page report | 2 h | 30 min | Check the figures quoted |
| Internal memo or procedure | 1 h 30 | 40 min | Adapt to internal rules |
| Manager's weekly schedule | 1 h | 20 min | Decide priorities |
| Sorting and answering emails | 3 h | 2 h | Decide what gets sent |
On this typical profile, the gap is about 5 to 8 hours per week (estimate). For a less busy position, count on the 2 to 4 hours stated by the course.
What the course contains and what it costs
The course Write, analyze and organize your work with AI, taught in French, runs in five modules: effective prompting techniques (context, constraints, examples, follow-ups), writing professional documents with AI, analysing documents, emails and reports, organising ideas, outlines and presentations, then your daily AI work system. It also covers data protection: never paste confidential information about a citizen or an employee into a public tool.
| Option in Thiès in 2026 | Indicative price | Format | Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free tutorials on YouTube or TikTok | 0 FCFA (plus data) | Scattered tips | No method or office cases |
| In-person AI workshop in Thiès or Dakar | 50,000 to 150,000 FCFA per day | 1 day, travel | Little practice afterwards |
| ChatGPT Plus or Gemini Advanced subscription | about 13,000 FCFA a month | Tool only | Does not teach you to use it |
| Kolonell Academy, level 2 AI | 50,000 FCFA (about 76 EUR / 83 USD) | 10 h, at your own pace | Requires applying it to your own files |
| Full Artificial intelligence track (5 levels) | 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 (about 534 EUR) | Up to automation and consulting | To go beyond office work |
The free versions of ChatGPT, Gemini or Claude are enough to follow the course. Enrollment is paid with Wave or Orange Money. This level 2 belongs to the Artificial intelligence track, whose level 1 (25,000 FCFA) suits you if you have never used an AI assistant.
What AI changes for an assistant's career in Thiès
Salaries below are 2026 orders of magnitude in Thiès, with no guarantee. They vary by sector and employer.
| Position | Indicative monthly salary in Thiès | Contribution of AI skills |
|---|---|---|
| Secretary or office assistant | 120,000 to 200,000 FCFA | Faster output, fewer errors |
| Executive assistant in an SME | 180,000 to 300,000 FCFA | Summaries and meeting preparation |
| Administrative officer in local government | 130,000 to 220,000 FCFA | Standardised letters and minutes |
| NGO project assistant | 250,000 to 400,000 FCFA | Faster donor reports |
| Evening freelance writing or typing | 5,000 to 20,000 FCFA per document | More assignments in the same time |
The hours saved mostly go into clearing backlog or taking on higher-value tasks, which shows at annual reviews.
Mini case study
Learn this skill with Kolonell Academy
Short, practical online courses (taught in French), graded exercises, certificate. Pay with Wave or Orange Money.
Mariama, 29, is an office assistant at a transport company in Thiès, earning 160,000 FCFA a month for about 173 hours, nearly 925 FCFA an hour. Each week she writes about fifteen letters, two sets of minutes and an activity update for her director. After the course (50,000 FCFA, 10 h over three weeks), she builds a library of 12 template prompts and saves about 5 hours a week.
Calculation: 5 hours x 925 FCFA = about 4,600 FCFA of working time recovered per week, a payback of around ten weeks in time value. The real benefit lies elsewhere: her minutes go out the same day, and she can offer her director to take over contract follow-up. These are illustrative estimates.
FAQ
Do I need to pay for an AI subscription as well?
No, free versions are enough for the 10 h course. A paid subscription, about 13,000 FCFA a month, only becomes useful if you process very long documents every day.
Is it risky for file confidentiality?
The course teaches simple rules: anonymise names, never paste an ID document or health data, proofread every output. Senegal's 2008-12 personal data law also applies to these uses.
I have never used ChatGPT, can I start here?
It is possible, but level 1 "Discover AI and use it this week", 5 h for 25,000 FCFA, is a more comfortable start.
How do I pay and receive the certificate?
The 50,000 FCFA is paid with Wave or Orange Money. A Kolonell Academy certificate verifiable online is issued after the quizzes of the five modules.
How much does the full track cost?
The 5-level Artificial intelligence track costs 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 when paying for the courses separately.
Take the next step. Enroll in Write, analyze and organize your work with AI: 10 h at your own pace, taught in French, 50,000 FCFA (about 76 EUR), verifiable Kolonell Academy certificate. Pay with Wave or Orange Money. Questions? WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
