Michael Ebenezer Kwadjo Omari Owuo Jr, popularly known in the entertainment circles as Stormzy has receives an honorary degree from the University of Exeter for his “outstanding achievement in the field of higher education, philanthropy and widening participation”.
In response to receiving the honorary degree from the University of Exeter, Stormzy expressed his gratitude to the University and added that he is “extremely blessed and grateful”
“I bear the fruit and I share fruit and, without sounding too fantastical, that’s just what we’re meant to do in whatever way we can”, he added.
The rapper finally gave a gave big shout to his mum, who was sitting in the crowd, saying it was “always her biggest dream for me to go to university and graduate and then become somebody”.
Watch the full speech below:
The rapper established the #Merky Foundation in 2020 and has since promised to donate millions to the UK’s fight against racial inequality, support for justice reform, and promotion of black empowerment.
In an effort to remedy the comparatively low number of black students attending Oxbridge universities, he started by offering scholarships for black students at the University of Cambridge
A new philanthropic alliance was formed in 2021 between HSBC UK and the #Merky Foundation to ensure that 30 more “Stormzy Scholars” will receive funding for tuition and living expenses over the following three years.
