The verdict in three sentences
In Ziguinchor, restaurants, pharmacies, guesthouses and private schools are starting to ask for websites, and few local developers serve them. Kolonell Academy's HTML and CSS course costs 50,000 FCFA (about 76 EUR or 88 USD) for 12 hours and ends with a responsive multi-page showcase site, published online. With a used laptop and a 4G connection, a student at Assane Seck University can aim for first contracts at 150,000 to 400,000 FCFA within one to three months.
A Ziguinchor student's starting budget
The amounts below are 2026 orders of magnitude for Casamance.
| Item | 2026 cost | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Used laptop (i5, 8 GB RAM) | 120,000 to 200,000 FCFA | Enough for HTML, CSS and JavaScript |
| 4G connection | About 10,000 FCFA a month | Campus wifi helps |
| Code editor (VS Code) | 0 FCFA | Free |
| Static site hosting | 0 to 30,000 FCFA a year | Free plans to start |
| .com or .sn domain name | 8,000 to 20,000 FCFA a year | Usually billed to the client |
| Kolonell "HTML and CSS" course | 50,000 FCFA | One-off |
| Starting total | 180,000 to 260,000 FCFA | Laptop included |
Ways to learn and their price
| Option | 2026 price | Duration | What is often missing |
|---|---|---|---|
| YouTube tutorials and free sites | 0 FCFA, data included | Several months | Full project, feedback, publishing |
| Free online platforms (certificates) | 0 FCFA | 50 to 300 h | Local SME cases, support in French |
| Kolonell "HTML and CSS" | 50,000 FCFA | 12 h online | Requires a computer |
| In-person bootcamp in Dakar | 300,000 to 1,000,000 FCFA, plus lodging | 3 to 6 months | Leaving Ziguinchor |
| Computer science degree | 300,000 to 900,000 FCFA a year in private schools | 3 years | Few real client projects |
The HTML and CSS course to build and lay out a real website is level 2, Beginner of the Web Development track, taught in French. Its five modules cover semantic HTML, accessible forms, CSS fundamentals, layout with Flexbox, Grid and responsive design, then maintainable CSS and publishing. The common thread is a complete SME showcase site. If you have never opened a code editor, level 1 (6 hours) lays the groundwork. The full 5-level track, up to full-stack with React and Next.js, costs 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 FCFA.
What you can charge next
Rates depend on the city and the client. 2026 orders of magnitude for businesses in Ziguinchor and the region:
| Service | 2026 local rate | Turnaround | Required level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single page (landing page) | 75,000 to 150,000 FCFA | 3 to 5 days | Level 2 completed |
| Simple 3 to 5 page showcase site | 150,000 to 400,000 FCFA | 1 to 2 weeks | Level 2 completed |
| Redesign of an old page | 100,000 to 250,000 FCFA | 1 week | Level 2 completed |
| Content update | 10,000 to 25,000 FCFA per job | 1 to 2 h | Level 2 |
| Monthly maintenance | 15,000 to 30,000 FCFA a month | Ongoing | Level 2 |
| Site with dynamic forms or booking | 400,000 FCFA and up | 3 to 6 weeks | Levels 3 to 5 |
Clients in Dakar or the diaspora often pay more, but ask for a portfolio. The three or four projects built during the course serve exactly as first references.
Mini case study
Ibrahima, 22, undergraduate at Assane Seck University in Ziguinchor, buys a used laptop for 150,000 FCFA and takes the course over 4 weeks, at 3 hours a week.
Learn this skill with Kolonell Academy
Short, practical online courses (taught in French), graded exercises, certificate. Pay with Wave or Orange Money.
- Total investment: 150,000 + 50,000 + 10,000 for data a month, about 210,000 FCFA over the first month.
- Month 2: a restaurant in the Boucotte district orders a 4-page site for 200,000 FCFA.
- Month 3: a guesthouse in Cap Skirring orders a landing page for 100,000 FCFA, with 20,000 FCFA monthly maintenance.
After these first two contracts, he has collected 300,000 FCFA, his investment repaid with 90,000 FCFA to spare. This scenario remains an estimate: landing a first client takes prospecting, usually 10 to 20 businesses approached.
FAQ
Can I learn HTML and CSS on a phone?
You can read the lessons, but coding comfortably requires a computer. A used laptop at 120,000 to 200,000 FCFA is enough.
Are 12 hours enough to build a real site?
Yes for a static, responsive showcase site, which is the course's final deliverable. For dynamic sites, you then need JavaScript, at level 3.
Do I need to be good at math?
No. HTML and CSS require logic and rigor, not calculation. Exercises are tested automatically to spot errors.
How much does publishing a client site cost?
A static site can be hosted for free; the domain name costs 8,000 to 20,000 FCFA a year, usually paid by the client.
How do I pay from Ziguinchor?
With Wave or Orange Money, on the course page. Access opens as soon as payment is confirmed.
Take the next step. Enroll in HTML and CSS: build and lay out a real website: 12 hours online, taught in French, 50,000 FCFA (about 76 EUR), 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.
