Joshua Beckford, a British-Nigerian child prodigy, made history by becoming the youngest person ever to study at Oxford University at the age of six. Diagnosed with high-functioning autism, Joshua’s exceptional intellect was evident early on—by 10 months, he could identify letters and numbers, and by two and a half, he was reading fluently and learning Japanese and Mandarin. His father, Knox Daniel, recognized his son’s extraordinary abilities and sought opportunities to nurture his talents.
Joshua’s academic journey took a remarkable turn when he was admitted to an online program for gifted children at Oxford University, focusing on Philosophy and History. Despite the program’s typical age range of 8 to 13, Joshua excelled, earning distinctions in both subjects. His achievements extended beyond academics; he has demonstrated surgical skills using the Microsoft Surgery Simulator and aspires to become a neurosurgeon.
Beyond his personal accomplishments, Joshua is a passionate advocate for autism awareness and education. He serves as an ambassador for the Boys Mentoring Advocacy Network (BMAN), supporting educational initiatives across several countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. Additionally, he is the face of the National Autistic Society’s Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) campaign, working to highlight and address disparities in autism diagnosis and support within minority communities.
For a deeper insight into Joshua Beckford’s inspiring journey, you can watch his TEDx talk titled “The world through the eyes of a child”:
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