2 female carpenters tell their stories

Recently, the Abuja Enterprise Agency (AEA), an agency set up to equip FCT residents with entrepreneurial skills, trained 28 youths in carpentry, cabinetry and furniture making. Most of the youths who did the three-month training at Dazzle Carpentry Factory, Dei Dei, a suburb of the FCT, were mainly graduates. But more interesting is the fact that two out of the 28 were women: Haruna Jamila Abdul and Victoria Nwanze. When Women in Business sought to know their reason of venturing into a male-dominated field, they had these to say: Jamila Abdul who is a graduate of Textile and Interior Design and currently doing a masters in the same course said she was passionate about carpentry “It is something I really have passion for as I wanted my hands on something to do with interior design. I like the fact that it’s an area you can’t find many women. “I read Textile and Interior Design at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, and I am doing an MSc presently in the same course. “Therefore, doing carpentry is learning some practical aspects of the course,” she explained. Jamila who said she had

From right, the Secretary of the Education Secretariat of the FCTA Dr. Bala Mohammed Liman and the MD of Abuja Enterprise Agency, Mal Arabi Muhammed Tukur presenting certificate to Jamila Abdul at the graduation ceremony from the Dazzle Carpentry school held in AEA Complex recently.

started putting her skills to work in her mobile shop, added that she had some furniture for sale. She said she had faith that in the nearest future she would be the most sought-after woman in carpentry in the country, and added that, “I don’t feel odd going into carpentry because I enjoy it.” Therefore, she advised women to “stop limiting themselves and forget about the stereotypes. They should be ready to take opportunities when they come and not feel they are disadvantaged.” Similarly, Victoria Nwanze,
“The fact that it’s not common for women to go into the carpentry field is the reason why I decided to do this, knowing that since we are few, if you are really good at it, people will look out for you.” Nwanze who is a graduate of Architecture from Bells University of Technology, Ota, Ogun State, said apart from the opportunity the course offered, she loved furniture-making. She said, “I love furniture-making and I know that if I combine it with architecture, it will be an excellent combination. I will be
productive and viable in the market.” She further said women were at an advantage if they went into the field as they could give attention to detail and have eye for aesthetics. ‘As a woman, you can understand some intricate details you can add to your work to make your furniture a bit different. You will add aesthetics to it as well. So, we are even at advantage as women,” she said. On if working as a carpenter is not too tasking for a woman, Nwanze said, “It is tasking, but which work is not tasking.