When lectures end for the day, Abdul Kadir Abdu Samed often swaps his books for measuring tape, wood and upholstery tools.
The final-year BA Business Administration student at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi (KNUST) spends part of his time at his workshop, Samedo Golden Furniture, turning ideas into wardrobes, bed frames, sofas, centre tables and TV consoles.
“Carpentry is kind of like something that I need to work with my hand. I use my energy, my skills. I bring all what I have learned or what I have in my mind into physical,” he said.
In this edition of KNUST Plus, we step into his workshop to see how he balances the demands of completing a university degree with building a practical skill and a business.
Abdul Kadir’s interest is firmly in furniture making. Although carpentry extends into areas such as woodwork, roofing and ceiling installation, he has chosen a particular direction for his craft.
“My direction is to do wardrobes, bed frames. I do bed frames, both foaming and wooden ones,” he said.
“I do centre tables. I do furniture, sofa, everything, even TV consoles.”
These are not merely skills he is practising in anticipation of life after university. Abdul Kadir is already putting them to work for customers.
“In fact, so far, so good. I can literally tell you that I’ve done all these works that I’ve mentioned to you for some of my clients,” he said.
Combining furniture making with university education means carefully dividing his time between the lecture hall, his books and the workshop.
Abdul Kadir said the university timetable gives him opportunities to plan his work around lectures.
“University is not like a secondary school where you have to go to class all day and you have to go to class eight hours,” he said.
“Sometimes I have my lectures for only two hours a day, sometimes four hours, sometimes six hours. So I plan.”
When his timetable allows, he heads to the workshop after lectures and dedicates several hours to completing orders.
“After the lectures, I make sure I come and spend at least four hours in the work that I have,” he said.
That balance, however, changes when academic work becomes more demanding. During stressful periods, he reduces the hours spent on furniture making and gives greater attention to his studies.
“Sometimes when that makes it so stressful, I make it two hours. I come and do something and do it. I cut it off. Focus on studying and writing my exams,” he said.
For Abdul Kadir, learning a practical skill alongside a university education is also a way of preparing for what comes after graduation.
His message to other students is not that they should necessarily take up carpentry. Instead, he encourages them to consider acquiring a practical skill that can complement their academic qualifications.
“If you have the opportunity, it may not even be carpentry. Any handy job, you need to have it alongside with your academics,” he said.
He believes graduates should be prepared to create additional opportunities for themselves rather than depend entirely on formal employment.
“Because these days, when you finish school, you can’t rely solely on the government for a job,” he said.
“And even if you have the opportunity to get the job, you can still do your handy job as a side hustle.”
Story: Emmanuel Kwasi Debrah
