The verdict in three sentences
In two weeks, at about 2.5 hours per week, you can complete the 5 hours of level 1 of the Kolonell Academy Office and Productivity track from Yamoussoukro. The price is 25,000 FCFA (about 38 EUR / 41 USD), against a ballpark of 40,000 to 100,000 FCFA for an introductory course at a local training center. You finish with concrete deliverables on your own computer: a named folder structure, a tested automatic backup, an email signature and a sheet of 20 keyboard shortcuts.
Who it is for, and what you need
This course is for you if you can switch on a computer but all your files end up in "Downloads", you still hunt for the capital accented letters on the keyboard, or you send emails from your phone. That is common among Yamoussoukro students looking for an internship, junior administrative staff joining a department, and shopkeepers buying their first PC.
The prerequisites are modest: access to a Windows computer at least three hours a week (personal, family, office or internet café), being able to use a mouse or touchpad, and a Gmail or Outlook address, or the ability to create one. You do not need to buy Microsoft Office: this level uses Windows 11, a browser, Gmail or Outlook, and the free storage of Google Drive (15 GB) or OneDrive (5 GB). On a Mac the principles are the same, and the Mac shortcut is given when one exists.
The course Getting to grips with your computer, files and email, taught in French, is level 1 Beginner, 25,000 FCFA, 5 hours. It consists of text lessons, a PDF handout per module, exercises done on your own computer, a quiz per module and a final project. There is no video and no live class: everything is read, including on a phone over 3G, with no app to install.
The two-week plan
The course page estimates about five hours: three hours of lessons, end-of-lesson exercises and 45 minutes for the final project. Here is a split into four sessions.
| Session | Content (actual module) | Indicative time | What you have at the end |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1, session 1 | Module 1: Your workstation under control (Windows 11, AZERTY keyboard, updates and antivirus) | 1 h 15 | Accents and @ typed without searching, computer up to date |
| Week 1, session 2 | Module 2: Files, folders and backup | 1 h 15 | Folder structure in place, written dated naming rule, Google Drive or OneDrive backup tested on a file |
| Week 2, session 3 | Module 3: Professional email | 1 h 15 | Email signature, three message templates, sorted inbox with one automatic rule |
| Week 2, session 4 | Module 4: Keyboard shortcuts and work organization, then final project | 1 h 15 | Sheet of 20 shortcuts, start and end of day routine, organized workstation documented with screenshots |
| Total | 4 modules, 4 quizzes, 1 project | about 5 h | Certificate once quizzes are passed |
Module 1 is a free preview: read it before paying to check the level suits you. That matters because access is not refundable once activated.
A practical tip for Yamoussoukro: if you work in an internet café, do sessions 1, 3 and 4 there, but keep session 2 (files and backup) for the computer you use most, because that is where the folder structure and automatic backup need to live. The module 1 lesson on power cuts also makes sense the day an unsaved document disappears.
What it costs compared with other options
| Option in Yamoussoukro | 2026 price (ballpark) | Format | What you keep |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kolonell Academy level 1 | 25,000 FCFA (38 EUR) | Text lessons, PDFs, quizzes, project, self-paced | Lifetime access, updates, verifiable certificate |
| Introductory course at a center | 40,000 to 100,000 FCFA | In person, fixed hours | Center attestation, depending on the center |
| Free YouTube tutorials | 0 FCFA (plus mobile data) | Scattered videos | No structured deliverable, no certificate |
| Full Office track (5 levels) | 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 (about 535 EUR) | Online, from level 1 to executive assistant | 5 certificates |
The Office and Productivity track then goes all the way to the executive assistant job. Level 2, *Professional Word*, is the next step for producing clean CVs, letters and reports.
On job prospects, stay clear-eyed: this level does not give you a job on its own, it is the foundation most office jobs require. As a reference, the course page notes that in Dakar an administrative clerk or data entry assistant usually starts at 100,000 to 180,000 FCFA gross per month in 2026. In Yamoussoukro, amounts vary by employer. This is a 2026 ballpark, depending on profiles, and no income is guaranteed. Computer fluency, however, is often tested at the interview.
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.
Consider a hypothetical learner: Awa, 24, with a two-year business diploma in Yamoussoukro, looking for an internship in a public office. She works on the family computer three evenings a week.
- Course cost: 25,000 FCFA.
- Alternative cost: an introductory course at a center at 60,000 FCFA (mid-range), plus 8 trips at 500 FCFA, i.e. 64,000 FCFA.
- Direct saving: 39,000 FCFA.
- Time: 4 sessions of 1 h 15 over two weeks, at home.
In this illustrative calculation, Awa ends up with a folder structure, a Gmail address with a professional signature and a Google Drive backup she can show at an interview. The scenario is hypothetical: it illustrates a cost calculation, not an achieved result.
FAQ
Are two weeks really enough?
For this level, yes: the total workload is about 5 hours, and the course page says that with two or three sessions a week you finish in two weeks. If you can only give 1.5 hours a week, plan three to four weeks instead.
Is the certificate a diploma?
No. You receive a numbered Kolonell Academy certificate, verifiable online (QR code), that you can add to LinkedIn. You get it by passing the 4 module quizzes with at least 70 %.
How do I pay from Côte d'Ivoire?
With Wave or Orange Money, at +221 77 596 93 33, for 25,000 FCFA. Access is activated within 24 working hours after payment is received, and it lasts for life.
Who answers my questions during the course?
Each course has its forum, and WhatsApp support is available. Exercises come with answer keys so you can check your own work.
What comes after this level?
Move on to level 2, Professional Word. If you are aiming for an assistant role, the full 5-level track costs 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000.
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Take the next step. Enroll in Getting to grips with your computer, files and email: 5 hours, 25,000 FCFA (38 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.
