Lanihun Ibrahim is a graduate of Plant Biology from the University of Ilorin. He runs an eyewear brand that provides professionals with protective glasses designed to reduce eye strain from harmful screen light.
By Eberechi Obinagwam
Lanihun Ibrahim is a graduate of Plant Biology from the University of Ilorin. He runs an eyewear brand that provides professionals with protective glasses designed to reduce eye strain from harmful screen light.
Lanihun’s journey into optical services started after graduating from Secondary School in July 2018 when he signed in to be trained as a dispensing optician through the help of his neighbour who was also into the business.
During the training in an Optical Clinic store, he noticed many patients, especially younger ones, suddenly needing glasses without prior eye issues. “When I asked why, my boss explained it was due to prolonged screen exposure and poor lifestyle habits. That insight pushed me to do something preventive, not just corrective,” Lanihun told TheNiche in an interview. With that inspiration, he established Iblan Eyewear, focusing on providing high-quality protective glasses.
Training as a dispensing optician
Lanihun’s interest in training as a dispensing optician started from having a neighbour who was into the business while still in secondary school. Amazed by what their neighbour was doing, Lanihun’s father asked their neighbour if one could learn the skill without going to the university to study Optometry and he said yes.
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“Before I even finished secondary school, my dad was talking about me going to learn it because he was surprised to know that one could learn it as a skill without going to the university to study Optometry. So, after my secondary school, our neighbour introduced me to his colleague where I could start my training in Ikorodu. I started immediately after my school graduation in July 2018,” he said.
He proceeded to learn more in an Optical shop at Lagos Island while in his 100 level in late 2019 during a semester break. The Covid-19 lockdown and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike that followed paved the way for his training and apprenticeship in 2020.
“I graduated from secondary school in 2018. Then I started learning in July that same year until the next year. I gained admission in 2019. We had the first semester till the end of 2019, then during the break in early 2020, there was a lockdown.
“When the lockdown was relaxed in July 2020, ASUU started a strike. So, I started with my second boss at Lagos Island. Meanwhile, the first boss was in Ikorodu. But I had to switch to Lagos Island so I could learn faster as we got more jobs in Lagos Island. I switched in July 2020. Aside this training, I also honed my skill online personally,” he said.
He added: “My dad was my biggest inspiration. He encouraged me to train as a dispensing optician after high school.”
Lanihun recalled that he wrote JAMB again while in his 200 level to switch to studying Optometry after being denied of it in his first admission that offered him Plant Biology. This was because he found passion in optometry after his training as a dispensing optician.
He recalled; “I started this business as a side hustle. It was just to make money. As I proceeded with it, I got interested in studying Optometry to further it but after two years of applying for JAMB, I didn’t get my desired course. For the first year I was studying Plant Biology. In my 200 level, I wrote another JAMB and I was not offered Optometry. I love business and personal development. So, I continued with my initial course and kept running my business.”
Iblan Eyewear as a side hustle
Lanihun started his business in 2021 while in his 200 level in his dorm room at the University of Ilorin. “It began as a side hustle to support myself through school. I ran the business from my dorm room, offering glasses to fellow students and gradually building a customer base”, he said.
Capital
Raising the capital for Lanihun was not a big challenge because he got support from his brother. “Capital wasn’t a big issue at the start. My brother supported me with ₦42,000, which I used to buy my first set of glasses. Things were more affordable back then, and I made the most of it,” he said.
Penetrating the market
Lanihun affirmed that he had difficulties penetrating the market because the eyewear space was quite saturated. “The eyewear space was quite saturated, and I was just a student trying to sell ₦6,000 glasses to classmates. It took almost a year to build confidence and gain traction. I was even shy to promote my products at first, but the business taught me how to talk to people and sell”, he said.
An edge of giving up
At some point in Lanihun’s life while establishing his brand, he felt like giving up because of poor sales. But a customer encouraged him not to. “There was a point I nearly gave up. Sales were slow, and it felt like nothing was working. But then a customer told me not to quit. That moment gave me the push I needed to keep going. And today, I am happy I didn’t give up,” he said.
Breakthrough
The brand owner of Iblan Eyewear said he records increase in his sales and it keeps growing every year unlike when he initially started. In his words; “Looking back at how far I have come. In the early days, I could go a whole month without selling a single pair. Now, the story is different. The numbers grow every year, and that growth keeps me focused.”
Business challenges in Nigeria
Lanihun said his major challenge in running a business in Nigeria is pricing. According to him, many people still view ₦28,500 glasses as expensive, even though similar quality eyewear abroad costs more. “Educating the market on value has been key,” he said.
Japa
Lanihun said he will have no reason to Japa if he can earn steadily here because his goal is to build a brand that truly takes care of people. “If I leave, who will continue that mission?”
About Lanihun and his business
Lanihun says he focuses on providing high-quality protective glasses. He said: “First, we source premium glasses frames for our customers to choose from. Once they make their selection, we fit the frames with our specially designed protective lenses and deliver the finished pair to them. Lanihun is a trained dispensing optician and a graduate of Plant Biology from the University of Ilorin. He is an employer of labour.
