Skillnaija All courses →

Plan a real small project end-to-end

The capstone project for Project Management for Beginners — a free Business course. Pass it and you earn a certificate anyone can verify.

Start the course free Download the project workbook

The project unlocks once you complete the lessons. The workbook is free to download now so you can see exactly what is expected.

What you will submit

A single shareable link (Google Drive folder or a Google Sheet) containing your one-page charter, WBS, timeline/Gantt and risk register, PLUS a link to your live Trello board (or board tab in the Sheet) showing the To Do / Doing / Done columns with your tasks as cards. Make sure all links are set to 'anyone with the link can view'.

What to do, step by step

  1. Choose one real, small project you can actually scope — for example: launch a small Instagram/WhatsApp shop, organise a community or church event for 100+ guests, set up a provisions store, run a 4-week content campaign, or build a simple website for a local business. Pick something concrete with a clear deliverable and a deadline within a few weeks.
  2. Write a one-page PROJECT CHARTER that states: the project name and one-line goal, why you're doing it, the budget in naira (₦) and the deadline, what is clearly IN scope and OUT of scope, the sponsor/key stakeholders, and the success criteria (how you'll know it's done well).
  3. Build a WORK BREAKDOWN STRUCTURE (WBS): break the project into 3–5 major chunks, and under each chunk list specific, ownable tasks (each finishable in roughly half a day to two days with a clear 'done').
  4. Create a TIMELINE / simple Gantt in a Google Sheet: list the tasks down the side and weeks/days across the top, shade when each task runs, mark the dependencies (what must finish before what), and add realistic buffer for Nigerian frictions like NEPA, supplier or fuel delays.
  5. Write a RISK LIST (risk register) of at least 5 risks, each with likelihood (H/M/L), impact (H/M/L), a response (Avoid/Reduce/Transfer/Accept), and an owner — plus a short stakeholder note on who you'll keep close.
  6. Set up a LIVE TRACKING BOARD in Trello (or a Sheet) with To Do / Doing / Done columns and your WBS tasks added as cards, then share a public/viewable link to it (and to your Sheet) as your submission.

Files to work with

Project workbook (fill in, then submit)The whole brief, an evidence checklist, the grading rubric as a self-check and the link-sharing steps in one file. Opens in Word, Google Docs or WPS.Word · 6 KB

How it is graded

CriterionWeight
Charter quality — clear goal, budget (₦) and deadline, explicit in/out scope, stakeholders and success criteria25%
WBS completeness — work broken into right-sized, ownable tasks with no obvious gaps (testing, approvals, handover captured)20%
Timeline & dependencies — realistic estimates, correct task ordering, and sensible buffer for local frictions20%
Risk register & stakeholders — at least 5 risks with likelihood, impact, a clear response and an owner, plus stakeholder handling20%
Tracking board — working Trello/Sheet board with To Do / Doing / Done columns and tasks added as cards, link viewable15%

You need 65% overall to pass. A failed submission comes back with feedback and can be revised and resubmitted.

Before you submit: make your link public

If your work lives in Google Drive or Google Docs, open Share → General access and change “Restricted” to “Anyone with the link” (Viewer). Then paste the link into a private browser window: if it opens without sign-in, you are ready. A private link cannot be graded — it is the single most common reason a good project fails.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to finish Project Management for Beginners before submitting the project?

Yes. The submission screen opens once every lesson in Project Management for Beginners is marked complete. The lessons are where the methods, the Nigerian context and the worked examples the project depends on are taught.

How is the project graded?

An examiner scores each rubric criterion from 0 to 100 and weights them as shown on this page; you need 65% overall to pass. Most submissions are graded within minutes and you get written feedback on what was strong and what to improve.

Can I resubmit if I fail?

Yes. A failed project comes back with feedback; revise the weak parts and resubmit. A passed project is final — the certificate is issued and cannot be re-rolled.

What do I actually submit?

A write-up of what you did (under 5,000 characters) plus a public link to your work — a Google Drive folder, Google Doc, spreadsheet, GitHub repository or video. The link must open without sign-in; a private link cannot be graded. The free project workbook on this page walks you through all 6 steps.

Is the certificate real?

Yes. Passing this project issues a certificate with a unique verification code. Anyone — an employer, a client, a school — can open the verification page and see that the certificate is genuine and which project earned it.

More Business projects

Ready to earn this certificate?

Project Management for Beginners is free and self-paced. Finish the lessons, complete this project, and the certificate is yours to share.

Start learning free