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Data Analysis Foundations

Excel, SQL, Power BI, dashboards.

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About this course

Go from spreadsheets to confident SQL and Power BI dashboards. Build a real sales dashboard for a small Lagos business.

For many years, Nigerian businesses often just “managed.” We'd open shop, sell market, make a small profit, and thank God. But things have changed. Competition is plenty, customers are smarter, and the economy is not smiling. The businesses truly shining today are not just managing; they are measuring and know their numbers.

Who this course is for

For people who want the most transferable office skill of the decade: graduates in any discipline, accountants and admin staff drowning in spreadsheets, business owners who want to see their numbers, and anyone aiming at analyst roles in banks, fintech, telcos, FMCG and consulting. It starts from spreadsheets and assumes no coding.

What you'll learn

By the end you will be able to

Pay, demand and the market in Nigeria

Data analyst is one of the most advertised entry-level tech roles in Nigeria, and unlike software engineering it is open to graduates of any discipline. In 2026 entry-level analysts earn ₦150,000 to ₦350,000 a month at Nigerian companies, ₦400,000 to ₦900,000 with two or three years' experience, and $1,500 to $4,000 a month in remote roles for foreign companies. Freelance dashboard projects for SMEs pay ₦50,000 to ₦300,000 each. Excel and SQL are asked for in almost every listing; Power BI or Tableau in most.

Tools and what it costs to start

Google Sheets or Excel, a free SQL environment (the course uses a browser-based one, no installation), and Power BI Desktop (free, Windows) — or the free tier of a cloud alternative if you are on a Mac or a phone. A laptop is needed for Power BI; the spreadsheet and SQL lessons work on a phone in a pinch.

Course syllabus — 12 lessons

  1. Why data matters in Nigerian businesses8 min
  2. Spreadsheets that don't break14 min
  3. Excel formulas that do the real work16 min
  4. Cleaning messy Nigerian data16 min
  5. Pivot tables and charts that answer questions16 min
  6. SQL: your first SELECT12 min
  7. Joining tables without tears16 min
  8. SQL that answers business questions16 min
  9. Your first Power BI dashboard22 min
  10. Power BI: models, Power Query and your first measures17 min
  11. From numbers to decisions: telling the story16 min
  12. Project: SME sales dashboard60 min

Your project

Sales Dashboard for a Local Business

A link to your Google Sheet/Excel file (uploaded to Google Drive) containing the raw data, analysis, and dashboard, along with your written summary of findings and recommendations.

A sales dashboard for a small business, built from a provided dataset or your own: the cleaned data, the analysis, the dashboard and a written summary of findings and recommendations. It is graded on correctness, on whether the dashboard answers a business question, and on the quality of the recommendation.

Certificates on Skillnaija are earned, not issued for attendance: you submit this project, it is graded against a rubric, and passing issues a certificate anyone can verify. See the full project brief, rubric and free workbook →

Frequently asked questions

Is Data Analysis Foundations free?

Yes. Data Analysis Foundations is completely free on Skillnaija. You need a free account to open the lessons, and there is no charge for the course, the project, or the certificate.

How long does Data Analysis Foundations take to complete?

8 weeks · ~5 hrs/week. There are 12 lessons, about 4 hours of material in total. You learn at your own pace and your progress is saved.

Do I need any experience to start Data Analysis Foundations?

Beginner-friendly. You can start from scratch — no prior experience is assumed.

What will I learn in Data Analysis Foundations?

You will build practical skills in Excel, SQL, Power BI, Storytelling with data, Excel formulas, lookups and pivot tables, Cleaning messy data, SQL aggregation, Power Query, data models and DAX measures, Presenting insights to decision-makers. Every lesson is written for a Nigerian context, with examples drawn from how the work is actually done and paid for here.

Do I get a certificate for Data Analysis Foundations?

Yes, but it has to be earned. You complete the course project — Sales Dashboard for a Local Business and submit it for grading. Passing the project issues a verifiable certificate; finishing the lessons alone does not.

Do I need maths or coding to become a data analyst?

Secondary-school maths is enough. SQL is a query language, not programming in the usual sense, and the course teaches it from the first SELECT. Python comes later, in the Data Science & Machine Learning course, if you want to go further.

Which data analysis course is best for beginners in Nigeria?

One that uses Nigerian data and ends with a real project, because employers ask to see a dashboard, not a certificate of attendance. This course does both and is free; pair it with Excel, Google Sheets & Dashboards if you want more spreadsheet depth.

Can I get a remote data analyst job from Nigeria?

Yes, and many do — usually after a year or two of local experience and a portfolio of two or three dashboards. The Get Your First Remote Job course covers the application side.

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