A new Freetown-based learning platform, Afronics Academy, is offering free short online courses in artificial intelligence, digital marketing, data, design, coding and business, with certificates that anyone can check online. Learners across Africa can take the courses on a phone, at their own pace.
Image: Afronics Academy.
- Platform: Afronics Academy, run by Afronics Technologies, Freetown, Sierra Leone
- Cost: free; the terms of use say "Courses are free" and the platform is "provided free of charge"
- Courses: 24 short courses listed, mostly beginner level, about 3 to 5 hours each
- Certificate: a free Certificate of Completion with a unique ID and QR code, checkable online
- Accreditation: none; the site says its certificates "do not claim external accreditation"
- Who can join: anyone aged 13 or over; under-18s need permission from a parent, guardian or school
- Website: academy.afronicstech.com
What you can learn
The course list includes:
- Technology and AI: Artificial Intelligence for Everyone, AI Tools for Everyday Productivity, Online Safety and Cybersecurity Essentials, and an eight-part Python programming series (PY101 to PY108)
- Marketing: Digital Marketing Essentials, Social Media Management, Social Media Content Creation
- Data and design: Data Skills with Google Sheets, Graphic Design with Canva
- Business and money: Entrepreneurship and Business Basics, E-commerce and Online Selling Basics, Freelancing and Earning Online, Mobile Money and Personal Finance
- Careers and study: Digital Skills for the Workplace, Professional English for Work, Learning How to Learn
Most courses are designed to be done on a phone using free apps such as Google Sheets, Google Forms and Canva.
How it works
- Create a free account with your email on academy.afronicstech.com. Use your real name, because it appears on your certificate.
- Work through the lessons and quizzes at your own pace. Each step unlocks the next, and some courses include practical assignments and reviewing a classmate's work.
- Pass the final exam and your assignments to download your certificate.
Your progress is saved, so you can switch between your phone and a computer.
About the certificates
Each Certificate of Completion carries a unique ID, a QR code and the Afronics Technologies seal. Employers or schools can enter the ID on the platform's verification page to confirm it is genuine.
Faddabah Newsroom check: the platform is open about what its certificates are. Its terms say a certificate "is not an accredited academic qualification." It shows that you completed the course and passed its assessments, which can strengthen a CV or LinkedIn profile, but it is not a university or government qualification.
A new platform
Afronics Academy is new. When we checked on 13 November 2026, its homepage showed 42 learners enrolled and 12 courses completed. Its first learner spotlight features a learner from Freetown who completed the Social Media Management course on 12 November 2026. The platform also offers private courses for NGOs and employers, with progress reports and co-branded certificates.
Faddabah Newsroom tips
- Start with one course that matches your goal, for example Digital Marketing Essentials if you run a small business.
- Do the practical tasks properly. The skills matter more than the certificate.
- Add your certificate ID to your CV so employers can check it.
- Combine it with other free options, such as Google's and Coursera's free courses, to build a stronger profile.
Contact
- Afronics Technologies, 75 Wilkinson Road, Freetown, Sierra Leone
- Phone: +232 33 004531
- Email: afronicstechnologies@gmail.com
Sources
- Afronics Academy homepage
- Afronics Academy: course list
- Afronics Academy: About us
- Afronics Academy: Terms of Use
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