Executive Director of the International Literacy Association (ILA) Marcie Craig said: “the work of Deborah is closely intertwined with our mission to transform lives through literacy, so we are thrilled to welcome her to our growing list of 30 Under 30 honorees.”

“Today, there are still 781 million people around the world who can’t read or write, 126 million of whom are youth. This list highlights the next class of leaders who are taking steps to advance literacy and helping us reverse those alarming statistics,” Craig added.

READ ALSO: Over 600 students graduate at the Ghana Institute of Journalism

According to a statement released by Golden Baobab, Deborah Ahenkorah Odei-Agyekum who is also a member of the group (Golden Baobab) was selected “for her unique contribution to advancing literacy through her organisation, Golden Baobab.”

This year’s ILA 30 Under 30 list of honorees consist ‘rising leaders’ from 12 countries and several sectors. The winners are made up of nonprofit leaders, classroom teachers, authors, volunteers, researchers, and social entrepreneurs, who have championed projects that have directly improved literacy in their communities.

READ ALSO: Find out the award winners at the GJA awards

In Ghana, Golden Baobab is one of the leading groups that run projects to improve the literacy rate among young people.

Its flagship program, the renowned Golden Baobab Prizes for African Literature and Illustration, has inspired writers and illustrators from over 24 African countries to create children and young adult stories.

Deborah Ahenkorah Odei-Agyekum recently also launched a publishing company, African Bureau Stories. This company is to celebrate and publish top stories from the Prize and produce high-quality and contemporary children’s stories and multimedia that reflect African experiences.