Denise Mobolaji Ajayi-Williams

Denise Mobalaji Ajayi-Williams is an U.S.-based Nigerian novelist and writer of Children's comic books who authored the first African superhero children's book Akiti The Hunter also known as "King of The Forest" in the Yoruba language.[1] Her book was selected by Barnes & Noble to be read by the author to children to mark the 2015 "Black History Month" celebration in California;[2] and it was described as "the first time this character (AKITI) has ever been presented to the world in cartoon form, to reach younger generation and present a super hero many children of color can relate to"[3] Ajayi-Williams has been described in Huffington Post as an "iconic woman on the rise" and was listed among the Forbes Africa's Top 30 under 30s in 2015[4] She was invited to deliver a keynote speech at the inaugural ceremony of the first ever "International Day of Education" in the United Nations (UN) Headquarters in New York City;[5][6] and has been a regular 'contributor' for the Huffington Post,[7] the Thrive Global magazine and the Bold Global Digital News[8] Ajayi-Williams is the Founder and Creative Director of the 'WM Journal magazine'; as well as the President and Executive Director of Silicon Valley – Nigerian Economic Development (SV-NED) and the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the 'Working Mom in 1920s'[9] She sits on several boards including "SV-NED Inc., the Global Connection for Women Foundation .... and Sky Clinic Connect".[5]

Denise Mobalaji Ajayi-Williams
NationalityNigerian, American
Alma materUniversity of California, Riverside, Golden Gate University
OccupationNovelist, short-story writer, journalist, social entrepreneur
OrganizationWorking Mom in 1920s; WM Journal Magazine; Silicon Valley-Nigerian Economic Development
Known forWriting Children Comics, Journalism, Philanthropy and Women Freedom
Notable work
Akiti The Hunter (2015)
Parent(s)Chief Temitope Ajayi (aka 'Mama Diaspora')
Websitewww.workingmomin20s.com

Early life and education

Ajayi-Williams is the daughter of Chief Temitope Ajayi (aka Mama Diaspora) who was the former Special Assistant to the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Her Excellency Alhaja Sinatu Aderoju Ojukutu.[10] Ajayi-Williams received her BA in Economics from the University of California, Riverside and her MBA from the Golden Gate University, San Francisco, California as well as holding a Healthcare Environmental Manager Certification (HEM) from the Center for Healthcare Environmental Management (CHEM).[5]

Career

Ajayi-Williams is a children's comic writer and the author of Akiti The Hunter as well as a Business, Lifestyle and Entertainment journalist and contributor for Huffington Post, Thrive Global and Bold Global. She is also the creative director and editor-in-chief of WM Journal Magazine as well as the founder and chief executive officer of Working Mom in 1920s. Ajayi-Williams is also an entrepreneur and the President and Co-founder of SV-NED[5] – a US-based social enterprise tech company that is dedicated to attracting international tech investments to Nigeria as well as promoting young tech talents across Nigeria and Africa through their immersion programs and scholarships grants. In partnership with the Silicon Valley in the United States to booster tech investments in Nigeria, SV-NED played active role in the official invitation and hosting of the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osibanjo as well as the paramount King of the whole Yorubaland, H.I.M Ooni of Ife in the Silicon Valley, California.[11][12][13]

Personal life

Ajayi-Williams has a son with her husband Hayden Williams III who is also the co-founder of their WM Journal platform and Working Moms in 1920s organisation.[14][15]

References
  1. "'Akiti the Hunter' brings a Black hero to children's literature". sfbayview.com; The San Francisco Bay View National Black Newspaper. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  2. "Author Denise Ajayi-Williams Kicks Off Book Tour of "Akiti the Hunter," African Super Hero". Post News Group. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
  3. "Black History Month Storytime with author Bolaji Ajayi". patch.com: Neighbor News. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  4. "An Iconic Woman on the RISE, Denise Mobolaji Ajayi-Williams". HUFFPOST. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  5. Ndungidi, Patrick (July 25, 2019). "Denise Ajayi Williams connects Africa to Silicon Valley". African Shapers Newspapers. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  6. Abramian, Jackie (July 21, 2019). "West Africa finds an unlikely home in Silicon Valley". Grit Daily Newspapers. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  7. "Denise Mobolaji Ajayi Williams: Business & Lifestyle Contributor". Huffington Post. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  8. "Posts by Denise Mobolaji Ajayi Williams". Bold Global Digital News. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  9. "6 Nigerians Making A Difference". The 234 Project. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  10. Oguntola, (October 9, 2011). "Sweet home-coming". The Nation Newspapers. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  11. "SV-NED OFFICIALLY INVITES AND WELCOMES HIS EXCELLENCY VICE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, PROF. YEMI OSINBANJO TO SILICON VALLEY". SV-NED. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
  12. Hamed, Abusatar (October 30, 2017). "Ooni of Ife, Makes His Grand Entrance to Silicon Valley". StarTrend International. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
  13. Williams, Hayden (November 30, 2017). "'His Imperial Majesty Has Arrived' — Nigerian King Visits Silicon Valley". Bold-Bold TV. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
  14. Hazelwood, Janell (December 9, 2015). "FROM THE MOUTHS OF BABES: HOW A MOTHER, INSPIRED BY HER SON, IS DIVERSIFYING WORLD OF SUPERHEROES". Black Enterprise. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  15. "Posts by Hayden Williams III". Bold-Bold TV. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.