Executive Assistant Training in Dakar: Price, Certificate and Salary (2026)

The verdict in three sentences

Moving from secretary to executive assistant in Dakar means a salary gap of roughly 80,000 to 200,000 FCFA net per month in 2026, provided you master a director's calendar, mail, meetings and Excel reporting. In-person training often costs 300,000 to 600,000 FCFA and imposes schedules that are hard to keep when you already work. A structured online course of 47 hours at 200,000 FCFA (about 305 EUR or 350 USD), with real projects and a certificate, usually pays for itself within two to three months of extra salary.

How much does an executive assistant earn in Dakar in 2026

The job has little in common with front-desk secretarial work. A managing director expects an assistant to protect their time, prepare the board meeting, screen calls tactfully and produce a clean dashboard within an hour. That value is what justifies the pay gap. The ranges below are 2026 orders of magnitude, net monthly, based on WageIndicator 2025 benchmarks and published job offers.

None of these amounts is guaranteed: they depend on the sector, the company size and your ability to prove what you can do. That is exactly what a portfolio of projects built during the course is for.

Comparing training options: price, duration, result

Three routes exist in Dakar. Private schools and training centers run in-person programs, often in the evening or on Saturdays. Free resources (YouTube, Microsoft tutorials) cover the software but rarely the job itself. Structured online courses combine tools and method.

The Executive Assistant course: office tools, organization and communication, taught in French, is level 5 Advanced of the track, priced at 200,000 FCFA for 47 hours across 10 modules: the role and posture, the director's calendar and priorities, mail and administrative correspondence, meetings and general assemblies, filing and confidentiality, executive reporting with Excel, executive presentations, travel and expenses, professional communication, taking up the post.

Which level to choose based on your starting point

Level 5 assumes a solid command of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. If that is not your case, start lower in the Office and productivity track, whose 5 levels cost 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 FCFA bought separately.

A secretary already comfortable with Word and Excel can go straight to level 5. A young management graduate who has never built a pivot table will save time by taking level 3 or 4 first.

Mini case study

Awa, 26, is a secretary in a construction SME in Dakar, earning 190,000 FCFA net per month. She is aiming for the managing director's assistant position, open internally with an advertised salary around 280,000 FCFA.

• Cost of the level 5 course: 200,000 FCFA, paid with Wave.
• Time invested: 47 hours, about 5 hours a week for 10 weeks, in the evening.
• Monthly gain if she gets the job: 280,000 minus 190,000, i.e. 90,000 FCFA.
• Payback: 200,000 divided by 90,000, i.e. about 2.2 months of extra salary.

During the course she produces her job description, a confidentiality charter and an Excel dashboard that she presents to her director. Those deliverables, more than the certificate alone, support her application. The outcome is not guaranteed, but the file is concrete.

FAQ

Is the certificate recognized by employers in Dakar?

The Kolonell Academy certificate attests to 47 hours of training and completed projects; it is not a state diploma. Recruiters mainly look at what you can produce: a dashboard, minutes, a well-managed calendar.

Do I need a computer or is a phone enough?

A computer is needed for the Excel and PowerPoint exercises, with Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace. Videos can also be watched on a phone, which lets you progress during commutes.

How long does it take to finish the course?

Count 47 hours. At 5 hours a week that is about 10 weeks; at 8 hours a week, a little under 6 weeks.

Can I pay in installments?

Payment is made with Wave or Orange Money. Another option is to take the full track at 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 FCFA, a 100,000 FCFA saving, if you need to rebuild the basics.

Can I work as a freelancer after the course?

Yes, remote assistance for SME owners or diaspora executives is billed in 2026 at around 75,000 to 250,000 FCFA per month per client. You still have to build a client base; no income is guaranteed.

Take the next step. Enroll in Executive Assistant: office tools, organization and communication: 47 hours online, taught in French, 200,000 FCFA (about 305 EUR), Kolonell Academy certificate. Pay with Wave or Orange Money. Questions? WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.