Ilorin, capital of Kwara State has most of its major spots dotted with car wash of different sorts, from the ragtag to the classy, every motorist has a choice.

The socio-economic development in the state in recent time has given rise to increase in the number of car owners and hence the boom for the car wash venture.

Now a highly competitive market, every car wash operator device innovations to outdo business rivals.

The car wash business has no doubt become an avenue for youth employment as an average one boasts of no fewer than 5 employees.

Speaking with National Pilot recently, a former Chairman of Nigerian Cars Wash Association, Kwara State Branch, Mallam Majeobaje Wakili asserted that the business is now a lucrative one compared to what it used to be in the past.

The man, who claimed to be the first car wash operator in the state, said he was ridiculed and mock by the public when he first started out.

"Car wash business in 1984 was seen as a lazy man's business and many people thought I was mad when I started the business.

"I abandoned my mechanic job to embrace the business because of economic hardship. So I started washing car by the roadside for a token before others later join me in the business."

Wakili explained that with the growing number of operators, he muted the idea of forming an association, saying; "today we have a large number of members who cut across the various strata of the society."

"The union is now reckoned with in the society. It was registered with Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja in 1986," he disclosed.

Wakili pointed out that the car wash industry contributes in no small measure to the socio-economic development of the society.

"It is one business that has helped in reducing youth employment and consequently, youth restiveness. 

"There some who work here part-time and use the money they make to further their studies," he added.

As observed by National Pilot, most of the part-time employees at the car wash within Ilorin metropolis are students of senior secondary schools and higher institutions.

On the requirement to start up car wash business, Wakili explained that water, is the most essential ingredient needed for it.

"The issue of commercial water supply does not necessarily come in as most operators have dug well, sunk bore holes or do a water pipe connection to water pipe. 

"In the past, water supply used to be problem while those supplying us make more money than we who wash the cars."

Wakili who is also the Director, Hasibuna-llahu Car wash group of companies in Ilorin stated that with the establishment of car wash he has succeeded in reducing unemployment rate with no fewer than 60 people in his employ.

"I have both the educated and un-educated in my employ; there are even undergraduates of tertiary institutions across the state."

Also in an interview with National Pilot, an operator of a car wash company along Agbo-Oba area, Alhaji Adams Adelodun Nurudeen noted that to stay afloat in the business, the operator have to be proactive and innovative.

"I am determined to ensure that what is obtained in Abuja, Lagos or anywhere in the world as per car wash business is also gotten here.”

He said car washing as gone beyond manual as machines are used now, saying most of the car wash spots belong to elites.

He suggested that government should support the operators so that the business can thrive in the state.

" If we have more than 10,000 car wash business units within Ilorin, it isn't enough given the number of cars that come into town everyday."

According to him, the business will go a long way in alleviating poverty among Kwarans.

An employee of one of the car wash spots, Mr. Tajudeen Bello, explained that the price varies according to the brand and age of cars.

He added that the least price for car wash is 200 naira.

On the mode of operation, he said they open for business as early as 7am and close at about 7 pm on week days but stay longer at weekends.

"I am a student and I use the money I make here to pay my fees and fend for myself," he said.

It is no gainsaying that car wash business has come to stay in the state with the industry providing employment opportunities for several numbers of people in Kwara State. More and more people today are going into the business to fend for their families while students engage in it to help them get money to achieve their academic career.

For individuals that are very focused to achieve success in life, especially youths that have intention of being entrepreneurs and have various business of their own, learning the rope would not be a bad idea at all. This is because it is a form of business that does not required too much capital to establish or stay in the business but it is a kind of business that calls for determination and commitment of the person that intend to engage in it.

Rather than taking to crimes and criminality as many youths these days engages in while equally blaming government for not providing employment for them, it is believed that such avenue could be tapped in.

Also, it behoves on government to provide financial assistant in form of soft loans to those in the business in order to assist them stay afloat in the business. Undoubtedly, it would also serve as encouragement for others to be able to emulate them.