The University of Oklahoma opened brand new residential colleges at the beginning of the semester. For a Norman business owner and OU alumnus, the colleges meant another job and another paycheck.

Elijah and Victoria Adeoye own and operate AEA Environmental, a company specializing in mold remediation, air quality testing and post construction cleanup called “Final Clean.”

The company performed Final Clean on the colleges as each section was completed and has previously worked with the university on Gaylord and Gould Hall. The process includes removing construction debris, stripping and waxing floors, cleaning carpet and windows, among other tasks.

“We started in March, we finished July 31,” said Denise Oyesanya, business and projects manager. “This summer we had two big jobs at the same time. We finished both of them in good standing. They were completed successfully, both parties were pleased.”

Oyesanya said it was the first time the business, which was founded in 2001, had completed two major projects at the same time.

Elijah Adeoye worked as a chemistry teacher in Nigeria before relocating to the United States to attend OU where he received his bachelor’s degree in medical technology and his master’s degree in microbiology.

Building a business took time. Elijah Adeoye worked two other jobs while relying on word-of-mouth to earn clients for AEA Environmental.

“At the beginning I was teaching, I was also working a little bit part time (at a) hospital and doing the business,” Elijah Adeoye said. “But by 2003, I put everything else out to do the business.”

Owning a business has been difficult at times, but Elijah Adeoye has managed to be successful and hopes others can be, too.

“My advice is this, if you want to be in business, you have to be willing to give it all,” he said. “You have to be willing to go with the ups and the downs. You have to be willing to grow for the long haul.”