About the Author
Bolaji Ajayi aka Denise Williams
Author of AKITI THE HUNTER the 1st African Action Superhero ever captured in children’s books.
Denise Ajayi Williams, also known as Bolaji Ajayi, is the author of the groundbreaking children's book, Akiti the Hunter. This action-packed tale features the first-ever African superhero in children's literature.
In addition to her work as an author, Williams is the CEO and co-founder of Silicon Valley-Nigerian Economic Development Inc. (SV-NED). She has been a keynote speaker at esteemed institutions such as the United Nations and the World Bank. Williams has also served as the Budget Ambassador for the City of Oakland.
Over the past four years, SV-NED has leveraged technology to connect professionals and businesses from around the world. The organization is committed to educating its community about the future of tech and has successfully completed two Immersion Training & Certification Programs with a graduating class of 120 people all from Nigeria. Williams is also a board member of five companies, including Global Connection for Women Foundation, Sky Clinic Connect, Numly, and Collabful.
Williams received her Bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of California, Riverside and her Master's in Business Administration from Golden Gate University in San Francisco. She began her professional career at the age of 23, working for leading healthcare companies such as Kaiser Permanente, Gilead Sciences, Abbott Laboratories, and the State of California Department of Public Health.
Williams is the recipient of numerous distinguished awards, including a US Congressional Award for Outstanding Contributions from Congresswoman Barbara Lee and a US Senatorial Award from Senator Dianne Feinstein for Outstanding Community Leadership. She has also received a Visionary Award from actor Danny Glover. Williams has been featured in several publications, including Forbes, CNBC, Guardian, Huffington Post, Bold.Global, Thrive Global, and Black Enterprise.
In her spare time, Williams is passionate about promoting childhood literacy and diversity. Her dedication to this cause is evident in her work as an author and her commitment to building a bridge of economic prosperity between Silicon Valley and emerging countries, starting with Nigeria.
Inspiration for Akiti the Hunter:
Akiti the Hunter, was written with the intentions to introduce the world to a new kind of hero, one that children of color around the world can identify themselves with. More importantly, Akiti’s journey into the new era will give old African folklores a brand-new stage coupled with cutting-edge illustrations and attention to details inside each Akiti the Hunter series.
My goal is to awaken and inspire the next young authors and illustrators from various backgrounds, to become the writers and illustrators of their own legacies.
