Stormzy can now add graduate to his long list of accomplishments after being awarded an honorary degree by the University of Exeter.

The London rapper was rewarded for his “outstanding achievement in the field of higher education, philanthropy and widening participation”.

Stormzy real name Michael Owuo Jr joked as his picked up his award: “I am going up in the world. I am a philanthropist now.”

He continued: “I used to really reject the honours and applause that come with something I genuinely believe was just a part of my purpose … the famous analogy I have always used is likening it to one of your mates popping to the shop and grabbing a couple of bags of crisps and a few bottles of Lucozade for all the boys.

“Of course it is a kind gesture, but it doesn’t deserve a song and a dance because that’s just what you do for your loved ones.

“I have been so richly blessed by God and I don’t just mean financially, I mean with love and life and family and joy, and with peace and with purpose, so, to put it simply, 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’”

“Some of our destinies is to save one life, some of us are destined to build nations and schools, some of us will focus on raising our families and those closest to us, some of us will help our local community, some of us will help the neighbour next door, some of us will help the world, some of us will help a friend,”

“My point being that we should always share and support, uplift and help in whatever capacity we are able too. All of these different sizes and levels of being a helping hand are all beautiful and all of them are just as powerful as each other.”

Stormzy set up the #Merky Foundation in 2020 and has gone on to pledge millions to tackle racial inequality, justice reform and black empowerment in the UK.