Joshua Beckford: The Nigerian Prodigy Who Became Oxford’s Youngest Student
Joshua Beckford made history as the youngest person ever to study at Oxford University, gaining global recognition when he was admitted at just six years old. Through an online learning platform for gifted children, he earned distinctions in Philosophy and History, setting an unmatched record; the next youngest Oxford student was at least two years older.
By the age of 10 months, Beckford could already identify letters and numbers. At two and a half, he was reading fluently and learning Japanese and Mandarin. His intellectual journey didn’t stop there. Aspiring to become a neurosurgeon, Beckford has mastered complex surgical procedures like cataract removal and leg fracture correction through the Microsoft Surgery Simulator, showcasing skills far beyond his years.
Beyond medicine, Joshua shines in art, Information Technology (IT), sports, and foreign languages.
In 2017, he was honoured as Positive Role Model of the Year at the UK’s National Diversity Awards and was named among the Top 30 Most Extraordinary People globally by the Illumination Foundation.
Joshua’s impact extends far beyond academics:
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He serves as an Ambassador for the Boys Mentoring Advocacy Network (BMAN), supporting low-income families across Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, and the UK.
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As the face of the National Autistic Society’s BME campaign, Joshua raises awareness and inspires others, drawing from his own experience with high-functioning autism.
In 2019, Joshua and his father visited Nigeria, delivering a keynote address to nearly 5,000 people at the University of Lagos. Their mission was to raise funds to build a secondary school in Kaduna State, offering quality education to disadvantaged children. The school, named the Joshua Beckford Community School, was set to include modern facilities like classrooms, laboratories, an ICT centre, and a green garden.
