At 22, Mafeng Pwajok John is a 400-level Computer Science student at the National Open University of Nigeria who is also building a life for himself through carpentry. For the young man from Jos, Plateau State, the trade is more than a side hustle — it has helped him pay his bills and school fees, support others and dream of one day building houses and industries.
When Mafeng Pwajok John is not focused on his studies, there is a good chance you will find him with his hands busy. Wood, tools, measurements and the familiar sounds of carpentry are now part of his everyday life.
At 22, Mafeng is a fina year student of the National Open University of Nigeria, but he is also a carpenter. Born and raised in Jos, Plateau State, the Berom young man has spent the last few years learning how to turn wood into something useful — and, in the process, learning how to make the skill work for him.
For Mafeng, that has made all the difference.
“Thank God for learning that skill,” he says.
It is a simple statement, but behind it is a story of school fees, daily expenses, private contracts and the responsibility of trying to take care of himself while still pursuing his education.
For the past two to three years, carpentry has helped him do just that.
Before carpentry became a serious part of his life, Mafeng worked as an office assistant.
But when he compares what he earned then with what he makes from carpentry now, he says the difference is significant.
These days, depending on the job, he can make around ₦10,000 to ₦15,000 in a day. A private contract can bring him about ₦30,000.
For someone still in university, that money is not insignificant.
It can mean school fees are paid. Bills are handled. And there is even something left to help someone else.
How It Started
His journey began with his uncle. Interestingly, his uncle is a doctor, but he has also spent more than 15 years in carpentry. In 2023, Mafeng began learning the trade from him.
Like most people learning something from scratch, it was not immediately easy. Carpentry is stressful, Mafeng admits. It requires patience, physical strength and plenty of practice.
But there was something that kept him coming back: the income and the satisfaction of knowing that he was learning something he could eventually depend on.
And the work has taken him places.
He has travelled to Kogi, Kano and Abuja because of carpentry, experiences that have exposed him to different people, work environments and challenges.
The more he learnt, the more he began to understand that the skill could become something much bigger.
Why Young People Need Skills
Ask Mafeng what he would tell another young person and his answer is straightforward: learn something. For him, education is important, but having a practical skill gives you another option. He has experienced that firsthand.
There are moments when school is demanding and money is needed. There are bills to pay and responsibilities to meet. Having carpentry to fall back on has given him a sense of independence.
He believes other young people should have something they can do with their hands — something they can use to earn, grow and, perhaps, build a business around.
The Work Is Not Always Easy
Of course, making money from a skill does not mean everything is smooth. Mafeng says one of the challenges he has encountered on construction sites is discrimination based on tribe and religion.
He recalls an incident where an altercation involving tribal differences eventually resulted in work done by a carpenter being destroyed. For someone who is simply trying to do his job, such experiences can be frustrating.
There are also the everyday challenges of working on construction sites, where you may not always know who you are working with or what kind of situation you are walking into.
But Mafeng has continued to learn. He understands that the trade comes with its difficulties, and he is willing to face them because he sees where the skill can take him.
He Doesn’t Want to Stop at Carpentry
If Mafeng had his way, he would not remain a carpenter forever. Not because he is ashamed of the trade, but because he wants to grow. He dreams of using his talent to build houses and eventually contribute to industries.
That is where his education comes in.
Mafeng is studying Computer Science, and although the course is not the centre of his story, he believes the knowledge could eventually help him build and promote his own business.
He imagines having his own website, using technology to attract clients, hire people and manage a larger carpentry business. In his mind, the workshop is only the beginning.
His Parents Keep Him Focused
Behind the ambition are his parents. Mafeng describes them as his greatest motivation. Whenever he feels like he is drifting away from his goals, he says they help bring him back into focus.
His uncle has also influenced him beyond teaching him carpentry. He taught Mafeng the importance of consistency and, perhaps just as importantly, how to stop procrastinating.
‘It Is Not Always Bright Outside’
Mafeng knows life will not always go according to plan. His message to young people is therefore not one of pretending that everything will be easy. “It is not always bright outside,” he says.
There will be dark moments. There will be disappointments. There will be times when things do not seem to be working. But he believes those moments should not make anyone forget who they are or what they want to accomplish.
His advice is simple: put God first, work hard and remain focused. And whatever happens, do not give up. “The word give up isn’t in my dictionary,” he says.
Still Building
As part of his undergraduate programme at the National Open University of Nigeria, Mafeng is currently undertaking an internship at the Directorate of Information Technology and Digital Development, NTA, before completing his degree. He says the experience has introduced him to people who have mentored him and taught him things he did not know before, and he hopes to leave with as much knowledge and experience as possible.
For now, though, he remains a student, a carpenter and a young man figuring out exactly how far his skills can take him.
He enjoys music and singing, and counts Burna Boy among his favourite artistes. He still carries memories of growing up in Jos and the way his parents raised him.
But perhaps the clearest picture of Mafeng is not the student sitting in a lecture hall. It is the 22-year-old standing in a workshop, looking at a piece of wood and seeing possibility.
For him, construction will always be relevant. People will always need houses, furniture and spaces to live and work in. The question is how far he can take the skill.
And Mafeng already has an answer.
Mafeng wants to build — not just furniture or houses, but eventually industries and opportunities for other people. For now, he is taking the journey one job, one lesson and one piece of wood at a time, trusting that each experience is bringing him closer to the bigger future he envisions for himself and those he hopes to impact.
