Solomon Laleye, Chief executive Officer, of Ola Whales Laundry, is a 200-level Computer Science student who started his laundry services with just a bucket, detergent, and a pressing iron in his school lodge at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State. Today, Solomon has made a name for himself with a growing customer base and better equipment to meet demands.
By Eberechi Obinagwam
Solomon Laleye, Chief executive Officer, of Ola Whales Laundry, is a 200-level Computer Science student who started his laundry services with just a bucket, detergent, and a pressing iron in his school lodge at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State. Today, Solomon has made a name for himself with a growing customer base and better equipment to meet demands.
This convenient and reliable laundry service saves time and energy with a team of professionals that provides customers with high-quality services while they focus on what matters most.
How it all began
Solomon officially launched his laundry business on January 8, 2024, in Ile-Ife, Osun State, in his 100 level at Obafemi Awolowo University with just a bucket, detergent, and an iron. “I officially launched on January 8, 2024, in Ile-Ife, Osun State, in my 100 level as a freshman at Obafemi Awolowo University. I started with just a bucket, detergent, and an iron, delivering excellent services with a personal touch. Today, I have a growing customer base and better equipment to meet increasing demands.”
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Solomon had his first experience in laundry in his family house before gaining admission to the university. However, before starting his business, he patronised some laundry services around him to learn how the business works.
”I used to do my parents’ laundry every Saturday before I gained admission. My Dad travels so he comes back once a week and whenever he is back, he usually has a pile of clothes to wash. So, I already had a bit of experience in it. So when I first started the business in January, I patronised some laundry services around me to further know how the business works, to know how their pricing, packaging and customer relationship works.”
His inspiration came from observing how many students, like himself, juggle hectic schedules and struggle to balance chores like laundry. “I wanted to create a solution that offers luxury and convenience at an affordable price, easing this burden and helping students focus on their goals.”
Sourcing for capital
Solomon, while speaking to TheNiche, said capital was a challenge to him but was able to overcome it by reinvesting every profit back into the business. “Yes, capital was a challenge initially. I started small, reinvesting every profit back into the business while leveraging my savings and support from family and friends. This disciplined approach helped me grow organically without external loans.”
Penetrating the market
The CEO of Ola Whales Laundry said penetrating the market took him time, but by consistently delivering quality and reliable service, he was able to scale through.
“Building trust in a service like laundry took time. Initially, I faced skepticism, but by consistently delivering quality and reliable service, I gained customers’ confidence. Within three months, word-of-mouth and referrals significantly increased my visibility and customer base.”
An unforgettable experience
Solomon’s unforgettable experience was when he participated in a pitch competition that was held in his school, Obafemi Awolowo University, in May 2024 where he won the sum of N30,000 as the first runner despite not expecting to win. He said the competition opened doors to valuable networks and customers for him.
“One unforgettable experience was when I participated in a pitch competition despite not expecting to win. I actually didn’t think I was going to win considering the other businesses my contestants were pitching. Moreover, I received the mail a night before the event while other contestants saw it weeks before the event.
“So, I had just overnight to come up with the perfect speech, master my style of presentation and even prepare my slide presentation on PowerPoint. In the end, I came up as first runner-up and was awarded the sum of ₦30,000 and also gained the trust of students which brought a massive turnaround in my business sales.”
Solomon was also nominated for OAU biggest event of the year. “Also, I made it to the top 5 in both categories. ‘Brand of the year’ and ‘Student entrepreneur of the year.’ The second was the Shun Unemployment business pitch where I represented my school in November and I also made it to top 6, defeating contestants from various universities in Nigeria. They all opened doors to valuable networks and customers, proving that stepping out of my comfort zone can yield unexpected rewards.”
Breakthrough in business
Solomon’s breakthrough came when he got a bulk contract to clean curtains for a university organisation, “My first bulk contract was cleaning curtains for a university organization. It was a turning point. It reinforced my belief in the business’s potential and motivated me to keep improving.”
Business challenges
The CEO of Ola Whales Laundry said power supply and inflation are his major challenges in the business, “Power supply inconsistency and inflation are major hurdles. Managing these while keeping prices student-friendly requires creativity, like investing in cost-effective alternatives and streamlining operations.”
Take on Japa
Solomon believes that there is immense potential in Nigeria, so he wants to stay back to contribute to the economy’s growth by creating opportunities and solutions for others. “While the economic challenges are real, I believe there’s immense potential in Nigeria. By staying, I can contribute to creating opportunities and solutions for others. My business empowers students through affordable services and part-time job opportunities, which keeps me motivated to make a difference here.”
Solomon the man
Solomon, was born and raised in Lagos State. He is currently in 200 level, studying Computer Science at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State.
As a student entrepreneur, he said, he is deeply passionate about blending innovation and service to address real-life challenges. “My journey combines academic pursuit with hands-on experience, driving impactful solutions in my community,” he said.
Solomon has five workers, three work full-time while the remaining two work as part time.