The verdict in three sentences
To start with AI, you need neither a computer nor technical skills: a phone and WhatsApp are enough. A short 5-hour course at 25,000 FCFA (about 38 EUR or 41 USD) takes you from curiosity to five concrete uses tested in your real week. The expected gain is time, 1 to 3 hours per week depending on how much writing your job involves, not direct income.
Where to start if you have never used AI
The typical profile: Fatou, 35, an assistant, salesperson or teacher in Dakar, who writes emails, minutes, worksheets or quotes every day. She has heard of ChatGPT, may have opened it once, and stopped because she didn't know what to ask or worried about her data. Here is what AI concretely changes on these tasks in 2026.
| Daily task | Time without AI | Time with AI (estimate) | Free tool |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delicate professional email | 20 min | 5 to 8 min | ChatGPT, Gemini |
| Summary of a 10-page document | 45 min | 10 min plus checking | ChatGPT, Gemini |
| Meeting preparation (agenda) | 30 min | 10 min | Meta AI in WhatsApp |
| French-English message translation | 15 min | 3 min | ChatGPT, Gemini |
| Weekly schedule | 25 min | 10 min | ChatGPT |
| Lesson or product sheet | 40 min | 15 min | Gemini |
These times are estimates: AI produces a first draft that you always review. That review and the safety rules are exactly what a good course teaches you.
Comparing ways to learn AI in Dakar
| Option | 2026 price | Format | Strengths | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kolonell "Discover AI" course | 25,000 FCFA (38 EUR) | 5 h online, on a phone | 36 exercises, reviewed project, certificate | Requires practising during the week |
| In-person workshop (Plateau, Almadies) | 50,000 to 100,000 FCFA | Half a day to one day | Direct contact with the trainer | Little follow-up afterwards |
| Free YouTube videos | 0 FCFA | Self-paced | Free, plentiful | Unstructured, examples outside the African context |
| International online certificates | 0 to 30,000 FCFA | 2 to 10 h | Internationally known | In English, not focused on daily practice |
| Artificial Intelligence track (5 levels) | 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 | Progressive | From daily use to consulting assignments | Several months of commitment |
The Discover AI and put it to work this week course is level 1, Beginner of the Artificial Intelligence track, at 25,000 FCFA; the course is taught in French. It has 4 modules: understanding how AI produces an answer and why it sometimes makes things up, opening a free ChatGPT or Gemini account and enabling Meta AI in WhatsApp, applying five concrete uses, then setting your data protection rules. Examples come from Dakar, Abidjan and Bamako, with real prices of paid versions in FCFA.
What you get at the end
| Deliverable | Purpose |
|---|---|
| ChatGPT or Gemini and Meta AI accounts set up | Ready to use from week one |
| Log of five tested uses with time saved | Measured proof of your progress |
| Ten reusable prompts | Copy, adapt, send |
| Safety rules sheet | Never paste sensitive data |
| Costed free-or-paid decision | Avoid a useless 13,000 FCFA monthly subscription |
| Verifiable Kolonell certificate | Add it to your CV and LinkedIn |
Mini case study
Mariama, 35, an executive assistant at an SME in Dakar, writes about thirty emails and two sets of minutes a week. After the course, paid 25,000 FCFA via Orange Money, she logs a gain of 2 hours a week. On a salary of 300,000 FCFA for about 173 hours a month, her hour is worth about 1,730 FCFA: 8 hours saved per month represent about 13,800 FCFA of freed-up time. The course pays back in under two months, and that time can go to higher-value tasks. 2026 estimate, no guarantee.
Learn this skill with Kolonell Academy
Short, practical online courses (taught in French), graded exercises, certificate. Pay with Wave or Orange Money.
FAQ
Do I need a computer for the course?
No, a smartphone and WhatsApp are enough for the 36 exercises. Plan about 1 GB of data for the 5 hours of content.
Do I need to pay for ChatGPT to learn?
No, the whole course works with free versions. The last module helps you decide whether a paid version, around 13,000 FCFA a month, is worth it for you.
Is my data safe with AI?
It depends on what you paste into it. The course teaches you three checks and a rules sheet: never share ID numbers, client data or salaries.
How long does it take to finish?
Plan 5 hours in total, one hour a day for a week. Quizzes are passed with 70% correct answers.
How do I pay?
The 25,000 FCFA (about 38 EUR) are paid via Wave or Orange Money. Access opens as soon as payment is confirmed.
Take the next step. Enroll in Discover AI and put it to work this week: 5 hours on your phone, 25,000 FCFA (about 38 EUR), verifiable 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.
