The verdict in three sentences
In Dakar, full command of Word, Excel and PowerPoint is still the first hiring filter for an administrative assistant or office manager role, often checked with a hands-on test during the interview. Kolonell Academy's online Complete Office Suite course costs 100,000 FCFA (about 152 EUR / 165 USD) for 22 hours, versus 150,000 to 300,000 FCFA at an in-person centre in the capital, transport not included. With entry salaries of 150,000 to 250,000 FCFA a month (2026 order of magnitude), the course costs less than one month of a first salary.
How much does Office training cost in Dakar in 2026
Dakar recruiters no longer ask only for someone who "knows Word". They want a candidate who can produce a clean report, consolidate two Excel exports and present a monthly review in PowerPoint to a manager. That is exactly the target of level 4 Career in the Office and productivity track. Here are the real options with their full costs.
| Option | 2026 price | Duration | Format | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kolonell Academy, level 4 "Complete Office Suite" | 100,000 FCFA (152 EUR / 165 USD) | 22 h | Online, self-paced | 8 modules, corrected exercises, monthly Word + Excel + PowerPoint file, verifiable certificate |
| Full Office and productivity track (5 levels) | 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 (534 EUR / 580 USD) | 5 courses | Online | From first computer steps to executive assistant |
| In-person centre in Dakar (Plateau, Point E, Liberté) | 150,000 to 300,000 FCFA | 20 to 40 h | Evening or weekend classes | Centre attendance certificate, fixed hours |
| Transport for 6 weeks of in-person classes | 15,000 to 40,000 FCFA | 12 to 18 trips | Bus, Tata, taxi | Often forgotten cost (estimate) |
| Free YouTube tutorials | 0 FCFA + mobile data | Variable | Self-study | No correction, no proof for an employer |
| Mobile data for 22 h of video | 5,000 to 10,000 FCFA | 22 h | Data bundle | Order of magnitude by operator |
Payment is by Wave or Orange Money, no bank card needed. To compare the content in detail, the page of the Complete Office Suite course: Word, Excel and PowerPoint at work lists the 8 modules, from a shared Microsoft 365 workspace to presenting in front of management. The course is taught in French.
Accessible office jobs and their salaries in Dakar
The amounts below are 2026 orders of magnitude seen in SMEs, NGOs and group subsidiaries in Dakar. They vary with the sector, the degree and negotiation. No training guarantees a job or a salary.
| Role | Net entry salary / month | After 3 years | Expected Office level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data entry clerk, stock management | 100,000 to 150,000 FCFA | 180,000 to 250,000 FCFA | Everyday Excel |
| Secretary-receptionist | 120,000 to 180,000 FCFA | 200,000 to 280,000 FCFA | Word, Outlook |
| Administrative assistant in an SME | 150,000 to 220,000 FCFA | 250,000 to 350,000 FCFA | Word, Excel, templates and mail merge |
| Office manager | 200,000 to 280,000 FCFA | 300,000 to 450,000 FCFA | Full suite, PowerPoint included |
| NGO project assistant | 220,000 to 350,000 FCFA | 400,000 to 600,000 FCFA | Consolidated Excel, PowerPoint reporting |
| Freelance: PowerPoint presentation | 25,000 to 100,000 FCFA per deck | Depends on portfolio | On-brand PowerPoint |
| Freelance: company PowerPoint template | 50,000 to 150,000 FCFA per template | Depends on portfolio | Slide master |
The realistic delay between finishing the course and a first job is 1 to 4 months for a young graduate who applies actively (estimate), faster if you attach to your CV the monthly file produced during the course and the online verifiable certificate.
What you learn at each level of the track
The Complete Office Suite course is for people who already know the basics of Word and Excel. If you are starting further back, begin at the right level of the Office and productivity track: each level ends with corrected exercises and a verifiable certificate.
| Level | Course | Price | Duration | What you can do at the end |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Essential | Getting started with your computer, files and email | 25,000 FCFA (38 EUR) | 5 h | Organise files, write a professional email |
| 2 Practical | Professional Word: CVs, reports and documents | 50,000 FCFA (76 EUR) | 10 h | CV, letter, structured report with styles |
| 3 Advanced | Practical Excel: tables, formulas and analysis | 75,000 FCFA (115 EUR) | 14 h | Formulas, pivot tables, charts |
| 4 Career | Complete Office Suite: Word, Excel and PowerPoint | 100,000 FCFA (152 EUR) | 22 h | Mail merge, consolidation, on-brand deck, monthly file |
| 5 Expert | Executive assistant | 200,000 FCFA (305 EUR) | 47 h | Diary, mail, meetings, management reporting |
| Full track | All 5 levels | 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 | 5 courses | Saves 100,000 FCFA |
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.
Awa, 24, a management graduate in Dakar, moves from internship to internship at a 75,000 FCFA monthly allowance. She knows Word and Excel but has never built a presentation for management. She enrols in level 4 for 100,000 FCFA, paid with Wave, and spends 4 hours a week on it for 6 weeks, about 7,000 FCFA of mobile data. Total cost: 107,000 FCFA.
Cautious assumption: she lands an administrative assistant job at 180,000 FCFA net. The gain over the internship is 105,000 FCFA a month, so the course pays for itself in just over one month of salary, about 5 weeks. In parallel, two PowerPoint decks billed at 40,000 FCFA each to shops in her neighbourhood would already cover 80,000 FCFA. These figures are a simulation, not a promise.
FAQ
Do I need to know Word and Excel already to take the Complete Office Suite course?
Yes, levels 2 and 3 of the track are recommended, or equivalent command of Word styles and Excel formulas. If you are starting from zero, level 1 at 25,000 FCFA (5 h) is the right entry point.
Do I need to buy Microsoft 365?
Access to Microsoft 365 is required, but the free online versions are enough for part of the exercises. A free OneDrive or Google Drive account is also needed.
How long does it take to complete the 22 hours?
At 4 hours a week, allow about 6 weeks. You learn at your own pace, evenings or weekends, without losing 1 to 2 hours of transport per session as with in-person classes.
Is the certificate recognised by employers in Dakar?
Each level delivers an online verifiable certificate you can attach to an application or a LinkedIn profile. It proves the work done, but what convinces most in an interview is the Word, Excel and PowerPoint file produced during the course.
How can I pay without a bank card?
The 100,000 FCFA fee is paid with Wave or Orange Money. The full track costs 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 if you then aim for an executive assistant role.
Take the next step. Enroll in Complete Office Suite: Word, Excel and PowerPoint at work: 22 hours, level 4 Career, 100,000 FCFA (152 EUR / 165 USD), online verifiable certificate, taught in French. 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.
