NextGen Crafters: Empowering youths in furniture making

Every home in Nigeria needs one piece of furniture or the other, there is hardly a home without furniture.

The demand for furniture makes the business a lucrative one. However, there needs to be deliberate efforts to train young people in the craft of furniture making to meet growing demand.

While the economy may be harsh to many, experts have said training young Nigerians in furniture making would help reduce unemployment in Nigeria.

Producing high-quality furniture that can stand the test of time, making our pricing very affordable for all, bringing up contemporary and unique designs, providing sales promo during festive periods, these and many more are the strategies that can be used to break even in the industry.

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As part of unlocking the wealth of the furniture business NextGen Crafters in collaboration with Jaebee Furniture set out to empower youth to learn the craft of furniture making in Lagos.

According to Joy Shittu Igbodike, CEO of Jaebee Furniture, “We are Calling young people who would like to be furniture makers! Jaebee Furniture Training Academy in collaboration with Tetfund Centre for Excellence, Skills and Sustainable Development is pleased to announce the launch of ‘NextGen Crafters.

A training initiative aimed at individuals between the ages of 17 and 25. This program has been carefully designed to bridge the skills gap in the furniture industry in Nigeria, by providing training in wood machining and furniture installation. “By participating in this program you’ll have the opportunity to embark on a career path while empowering yourself economically,” Igbodike said.

She said applications for this program will be accepted until November 30 2023.

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers. She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay. She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos. As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender. She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies. Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the 'Aviation Writer of the Year' Category. She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category. She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations. Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.