Ileri Dada is a bright and passionate 12-year-old middle school student living in Texas. She loves reading, writing, math, and science, and she also enjoys singing, playing the piano, and shooting hoops with her friends. But what makes Ileri truly special is her big heart, her deep love for Jesus, and her desire to inspire others, especially kids like her.

At just six years old, Ileri wrote her very first book, The Adventures of Super Ileri and Jesus. It tells the story of a little girl who calls on Jesus to help solve big problems in her town, Faithville. The book shares Bible verses and faith-filled lessons for young readers, and it’s now growing into a series! The second book in the series will be published soon.

Ileri’s love for Jesus shines through everything she does. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she launched a YouTube series called Ileri’s Journey with Jesus on Zahab TV. In her videos, she shared Bible stories in a fun and relatable way to encourage other kids to grow in their faith even during hard times.

Her latest book, Black Inventors History Forgot, was inspired by a video she watched about unrecognized Black inventors. Shocked by how many names she had never heard before, Ileri talked to her dad about it on the way to school. That conversation turned into a mission: to uncover and share the stories of Black inventors who helped shape the world but don’t always appear in history books. With the encouragement of her parents, Ileri began researching and writing—and this powerful book was born.

Ileri moved to the United States from abroad when she was six years old, and her experiences have shaped her strong belief in justice, equality, and truth. Through her writing, she hopes to amplify forgotten voices, celebrate Black excellence, and encourage other kids to be curious, brave, and bold about using their gifts to make a difference.