BY DAVID MYLES
Joshua Beckford is a 14 year boy who rose to the attention of the public as the child marvel who became the youngest person to study at Oxford University. Studying and gaining distinctions in Philosophy and History at just age 6, it is unlikely that Beckford’s record is going to be broken anytime in the foreseeable future. The youngest person to study at Oxford University is at least 2 years older than Beckford was when he made this exceptional achievement.
Beckford, who intends to become a neurosurgeon, taught himself how to operate complex surgical procedures using Microsoft Surgery Simulator. Beckford is competent in the correct usage of all instruments, and has flourished in operations such as: the removal of a cataract, the removal of a hernia, and the repairing of a leg fracture to name a few examples of his highly advanced accomplishments.
This young intellect is also talented in an array of other areas such as: art, Information Technology (I.T), sports and foreign languages. At the tender age of 2 years and 6 months, Beckford was already able to read eloquently using phonics and started to learn Japanese and some Mandarin.
In 2017, Beckford won Positive Role Model of the year at the National Diversity Awards, and The Illumination Foundation Of North Carolina (U.S.A) website ‘We the Spectrum’ recently placed him in the top 30 most extraordinary people in the world who have impacted society.
Joshua Beckford is an ambassador for Boys Mentoring Advocacy Network (BMAN), which is a non-governmental organization that mentors boys and male adolescents in schools within Africa. Within the organization, Beckford serves as Low Income Families Education (L.I.F.E) Support Ambassador for five countries; Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, South Africa and a sixth country the United Kingdom, where Joshua was born.
“I am always amazed by Joshua’s empathy for others. At such a young age he wants to help make the world a better place” Joshua’s father, Knox
After a succession of violent eruptions in the Southern region of the Kaduna State of Nigeria, it is estimated that an excess of 350 children in Tafan, and eight satellite villages have not attended school since 2011. Though the violence has curtailed, non-attendance to school has meant that there has been a substantial decline in educational competencies and an escalation of illiteracy. Joshua’s father raised another important factor to consider:
“Academically, many Boys are also not performing at the same level as girls when boys are given educational opportunities” Joshua’s father, Knox
On the 20th August 2019, Joshua Beckford and his father Knox Daniel will be travelling to Nigeria to launch a live mentoring session. Their visit will include a speech to an expected audience of nearly 5,000 attendees that Beckford will give at the University of Lagos and at other events to raise money to build a secondary school for children from economically deprived backgrounds in the Kaduna State of Nigeria.
The purpose of the visit is to help remedy the present predicament and to create educational equality for those residing in villages and those in more urban-based locations.
The conference will be attended by: the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwoolu, Executive Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu Deputy Governor of Kaduna State Dr. Hadiza Balarabe and the President /CEO of Falke Industries Alh.Samaila Barau Maigaro as well as other captains of industry. In anticipation of the trip to Nigeria, Joshua expressed the influence he can positively have on his peers:
“It would be of great importance for the boys to see and listen to someone of the same age group inspiring and sharing with them my story and the achievements and challenges” Joshua
To support this vital campaign and to ensure a school is built in the Kaduna state of Nigeria, readers are encouraged to donate via
Boys Mentoring Advocacy Network, First Bank
Account Number: 2032817078
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Ameen Ali
August 12, 2019 at 4:55 am
Love this story about Joshua,,,I plan to give up 9-5,,at the end of this year to concentrate on being some sought of mentor to the youths of Africa and the Caribbean,,,havnt much qualifications,,but a hell of a lot in experience,,,u r an inspiration,,,,,lets do this,,,one love,,Moor2men,,,.