Chiamaka Osigwe wanted to fix a problem she had noticed growing up in Owerri – the near absence of reliable, professional cleaning services. With the ambition to be her own boss, she delved into professional cleaning services. In 2019, the Environmental Science and Resource Management graduate launched Dediamond Cleaning Services with little more than that idea and a small budget.
By Eberechi Obinagwam
Chiamaka Osigwe wanted to fix a problem she had noticed growing up in Owerri – the near absence of reliable, professional cleaning services. With the ambition to be her own boss, she delved into professional cleaning services.
In 2019, the Environmental Science and Resource Management graduate launched Dediamond Cleaning Services with little more than that idea and a small budget. Her degree from the National Open University of Nigeria gave her more than a credential. It shaped the way she approached the work.
“I noticed that many people wanted professional cleaning and laundry services but struggled to find dependable providers,” Chiamaka said. “That inspired me to build a brand people can trust,” she further told TheNiche in an interview.
Her background in sanitation, waste management, and sustainable environmental practices became the foundation of the business. Today, Dediamond Cleaning Services runs on those principles.
Growth and expansion
As her business progressed, she noticed that adding interior decor services would help the brand grow even further, so she added Dediamond Interior Decor Ltd.
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While handling the cleaning and interior decoration jobs, she noticed a demand in laundry services and added Dediamond laundry services to her business. “Clients were asking if we also do laundry services, but I would collect and give them to my laundry guy, especially curtains. But at a point I thought, I can also do this. So, I included it in my business and the growth has been amazing,” she explained.
Funding
Chiamaka didn’t have much financial support or equipment when she started, so she began from home, handling small cleaning and laundry jobs. She focused on delivering quality service and building trust with clients through consistency and professionalism. “I did that so that satisfied clients would recommend my business to others. As I kept working, the business continued to grow. Referrals, repeat customers, and increased patronage helped improve my brand’s financial strength,” she said.
“The journey taught me that consistency, good customer service, and perseverance can gradually turn a small beginning into something bigger,” she added.
Market penetration
The CEO of Dediamond Cleaning Services said it took her time to break into the market because there were already established companies that started with more capital and better equipment. She said: “Competing with bigger brands at the beginning was challenging, especially since I started small from home with limited resources.”‘
Chiamaka didn’t allow that to discourage her. “I focused on consistency, quality service delivery, customer satisfaction, and building trust with clients. Gradually, through referrals, hard work, and professionalism, people began to recognize and patronize my brand”, she recalled.
Her experience taught her that patience, resilience, and determination are very important when building a business, especially when starting with limited resources.
Working with difficult clients
Like many business owners, Chiamaka has worked with difficult clients, especially those who would be changing instructions after the job has been completed. She narrated a particular experience: “We worked tirelessly day and night to satisfy the client, spent money on transportation, materials, and workers, yet getting payment became a serious struggle. At that stage of business, it was painful because every little money mattered to us.”
Apart from difficult clients, dealing with unreliable vendors is another level of trouble. Chiamaka said: “I also experienced disappointment from some suppliers. There were times I paid for cleaning materials and got low-quality products different from what I ordered,” she added.
In all, Chiamaka said as a growing brand, those experiences taught her to be more careful, document agreements properly, and work only with trusted people. “Those moments were difficult, but they helped shape me into a stronger business owner. Today, I understand the importance of professionalism, patience, communication, and protecting my brand while still giving clients the best service possible”, she said.
Breakthrough
Chiamaka’s breakthrough began when she started getting referrals from her clients and friends. “Everything changed for my business. People I didn’t even know began contacting us for jobs from different parts of the state and even beyond. That was when I realized that good work truly speaks for itself. Consistency, professionalism, and customer satisfaction helped our brand grow through word of mouth,” she said.
Business challenges
The CEO of Dediamond Cleaning Services faces high costs of running a business, from unstable electricity to constant increases in fuel and transportation costs. “It takes a lot to keep operations moving smoothly. Sometimes, getting quality equipment and maintaining it can also be very expensive,” she said. “Another major challenge is convincing people to trust your brand, especially when starting with little capital and competing with bigger companies. Many clients want quality services but at very cheap prices,” she added.
She said despite all the challenges, consistency, professionalism, and referrals from satisfied clients have helped her business grow.
Japa
Chiamaka’s perspective on the issue of japa is that hard work is at the root of it all. “Whether you are in Nigeria or relocating abroad, you need to work hard to achieve anything you want,” she said.
According to her, if she cannot build value or manage opportunities here in Nigeria, it may still be difficult for her abroad. “The truth is that I will still need to work hard and make money. Relocating is not magic. It takes planning, skills, discipline, and financial stability”, she said.
About Chiamaka
Chiamaka hails from Ideato South Local Government Area of Imo State, but was born in Nkwerre, in the same state.
She holds a B.Sc. in Environmental Science and Resource Management from National Open University, NOUN, Owerri Study center. She is the Chief Executive Officer of Dediamond Cleaning Services, Dediamond interior Decor Ltd and Dediamond laundry services.
Chiamaka has trained more than 15 successful professional cleaners who are doing well in the industry. She also has a dedicated team of trained workers who handle different cleaning projects professionally and efficiently. She can be reached through her social media handles: Chiamaka osigwe, Instgram: Dediamond cleaning services Ltd had on Facebook page: Dediamond cleaning services Ltd.
