Bristol academic shares rags to riches story in new book
David Etor, a Nigerian-born academic at the University of Bristol, has published a memoir detailing his journey from extreme poverty to becoming a lecturer in engineering. His story highlights his early struggles with literacy and his eventual success through innovation and education.
Why it matters
It serves as an inspirational narrative regarding social mobility and the impact of educational opportunities on individuals from impoverished backgrounds.
Share Save Add as preferred on Google James Diamond , Bristol and John Darvall , BBC Radio Bristol BBC David Etor's first break came after designing and building a kind of "solar oven" in Nigeria A Nigerian man has shared the story of how he rose up out of "abject poverty" as a child, to become one of the leading UK academics in his field.
David Etor, 43, who grew up in Nigeria, only learned to read and write aged 12 and was told as a child that "nothing good will come out of you", but is now a lecturer in the School of Electrical, Electronic and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Bristol.
He told the BBC how his family was so poor growing up that his mum would pretend to cook food in a kitchen they shared with others, "to protect our dignity" in front of neighbours.
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