The verdict in three sentences
In Ziguinchor, Excel is still the office skill most often tested at hiring for assistant accountant, stock manager or administrative officer roles in NGOs and SMEs. A 14-hour online course at 75,000 FCFA (about 115 EUR) costs less than 6 hours of private lessons and covers formulas, lookup functions, pivot tables and ready-to-use management tools. The certificate helps get an interview, but showing a clean workbook during the interview is what makes the difference.
Options to learn Excel from Ziguinchor in 2026
Students at Assane Seck University and administrative employees in the city have several choices. Prices below are 2026 orders of magnitude.
| Option | Indicative 2026 price | Typical duration | Certificate | Main limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free YouTube tutorials | 0 FCFA (plus data) | Variable | No | No progression, examples outside the African context |
| Private lessons at home | 10,000 to 15,000 FCFA/h | 10 to 20 h, i.e. 100,000 to 300,000 FCFA | No | Quality varies widely by teacher |
| In-person training centre | 80,000 to 150,000 FCFA | 3 to 6 weeks | Attendance certificate | Fixed hours, shared computers |
| International online certificates | 0 to 40,000 FCFA | 10 to 30 h | Yes, often in English | No FCFA examples, no local SME cases |
| Kolonell Academy, Practical Excel | 75,000 FCFA (about 115 EUR) | 14 h, online | Yes | Needs a computer or Google Sheets on a phone |
The Kolonell Academy Practical Excel course: tables, formulas and analysis, taught in French, is level 3 of the track, intermediate, 75,000 FCFA. It belongs to the Office and productivity track, which leads in five levels to an executive assistant role; the full track costs 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 FCFA.
What you learn, module by module
The programme follows the order in which Excel is used at work: first a clean table, then calculations, then analysis to answer your manager.
| Module | Concrete skills | Example use in Ziguinchor |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Build a clean table | Formatting, FCFA formats, data validation | Sales log for a shop at the Saint-Maur market |
| 2. Essential formulas | SUM, AVERAGE, absolute references, percentages | Calculating 18 % VAT and margins |
| 3. Logical and lookup functions | IF, COUNTIF, SUMIF, XLOOKUP | Finding an item price in a 500-row catalogue |
| 4. Sort, filter, make data speak | Filters, conditional formatting | Spotting stock below the alert threshold |
| 5. Pivot tables and charts | Pivot tables, charts, slicers | Sales by month and product in 30 seconds |
| 6. Ready-to-use management tools | Cash, stock, budget, payroll tracking | Budget for an NGO project in Casamance |
The course works with Excel or Google Sheets, free on phone and computer, so you do not need to buy a licence at the start.
Excel and jobs in Ziguinchor: the salaries at stake
| Role | Indicative 2026 monthly salary | Expected Excel level |
|---|---|---|
| Administrative intern | 50,000 to 100,000 FCFA (stipend) | Data entry and formatting |
| Data entry clerk, cashier | 100,000 to 150,000 FCFA | Basic formulas |
| Junior assistant accountant | 150,000 to 250,000 FCFA (about 230 to 380 EUR) | IF, XLOOKUP, pivot tables |
| Stock manager | 150,000 to 220,000 FCFA | Filters, alerts, pivot tables |
| NGO project assistant | 200,000 to 350,000 FCFA | Budgets, indicator tracking |
These ranges are estimates for Ziguinchor and Casamance. NGOs and development projects in the region often require a practical Excel test during recruitment.
Mini case study
Fatou, 23, a master's student in management at Assane Seck University, is aiming for an assistant accountant job. She compares two options:
Learn this skill with Kolonell Academy
Short, practical online courses (taught in French), graded exercises, certificate. Pay with Wave or Orange Money.
- Private lessons: 15 h at 12,000 FCFA, i.e. 180,000 FCFA, no certificate.
- Practical Excel course: 75,000 FCFA paid with Orange Money, 14 h, certificate included.
She saves 105,000 FCFA. Three months later, she gets an assistant accountant job at 180,000 FCFA a month in a distribution company, versus 100,000 FCFA offered for a data entry role. The 80,000 FCFA monthly difference pays back the course in under 4 weeks of salary. Illustrative projection: hiring also depends on the degree and the interview.
FAQ
Do I need a computer to follow the online Excel course?
A computer is better, but Google Sheets works on a phone for the basic exercises. A second-hand laptop costs around 120,000 to 180,000 FCFA in Ziguinchor.
Is the certificate recognised by employers?
It is a private Kolonell Academy training certificate, not a state diploma. It proves 14 hours of completed training, and employers will mainly check your level through a 20 to 30 minute practical test.
I only know SUM, is the course too hard?
It is intermediate (level 3 of the track) but revisits essential formulas from module 2. If you have never opened Excel, levels 1 and 2 of the track are a better fit.
How long does it take to finish the 14 hours?
At 3 hours a week, about 5 weeks. Lessons stay available, so you can revise before an interview.
How do I pay from Ziguinchor?
With Wave or Orange Money, in one go, with no bank card. The 75,000 FCFA covers the 6 modules, exercise files and the certificate.
Take the next step. Enroll in Practical Excel: tables, formulas and analysis for work: 14 h online, taught in French, 75,000 FCFA (about 115 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.
