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One of the ways in which parents alleviate the stress that comes with childcare is by patronising childcare learning centres or creches. These institutions have become increasingly popular in recent times for the role they play in the development of the growing child. They have a high economic value and are one of the go-to business ideas for start-ups and SMEs. One of the businesses that came out triumphant in the Top 100 SME Campaign by Connect Nigeria is Ben and Glad’s Haven.

Ben and Glad’s Haven

This SME, which falls under the Education category, is a Childcare and learning centre that caters for the educational needs and welfare of children between the ages of 3 months to 16 years. Indeed, Ben and Glad’s Haven deserves this award for the problem it’s solving and the brilliant strategies it has in place to ensure that children are kept in a safe “haven” while parents attend to other daily affairs.

Ben and Glad’s Haven was founded by Nonyelum Arinze, a graduate of Medical Parasitology and Entomology from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. She holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration (MBA), Diplomas in Children Education Studies and Human Resource Management; She is also a Graduate Member of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM). With all these credentials in hand, it can be rightly said that Nonyelum is no half-baked entrepreneur but a woman with a mission to revolutionalize the school system and structure it to suit the demand of the growing child both socially and mentally wise. Learning does not always have to follow the mundane protocol of being confined to the four walls of a classroom and it is with this school of thought Nonyelum operates. In her own words:,

“We believe that every learning experience should be fun in order for the growing child to find it engaging and interesting. To achieve this we use mind stimulating games, puzzles, and activities. “With this, we redefine the overall learning process of the growing children and give them a limitless platform for learning to take place. That’s why our overall principle is Learning Through Play!”

With this agenda to foster learning through play, Ben and Glad’s Haven provides these services which are broken down into different segments as follows:

Early Years Education (Creche, Playgroup, and Preschool)
After School Care (Giving school children a place to unwind after school while their parents are still at work or running errands)
Summer School Program (runs during the long vacation in August… Children are exposed to different activities and clubs ranging from music, dance, reading, debates, sports and recreation, tours and trips)
Saturday Club (different clubs and activities to keep the children’s minds meaningfully engaged as against watching cartoons and playing mindless video games).

These services are offered to working-class parents and stay-at-home parents who have children or wards between the ages of 3 months to 16 years and in need of a conducive learning environment for them. As a brand with a unique selling point, Ben and Glad’s Haven is very keen on quality. It employs extracurricular activities as the basis for which standard learning can be achieved.

“We have infused an efficient blend of packages into our services and this embraces the core of Extracurricular Learning and the important role it plays in the overall behavior and character of growing children. “Our brand is not just concerned about the academic excellence of children, we are equally concerned about their morals, social and communication abilities, musical, intellectual and other skills that will equip them to be balanced in our society which is evolving itself on a daily basis.” — Nonyelum Arinze

With the passion, skill set and objectives, Ben and Glad’s Haven possesses as a brand there is no doubt that it’s on the right track and earned its place among the Top 100 SMEs.