P. Diddy

P. Diddy

P. Diddy can't wait to be honoured by his former university despite backlash from students.

The rapper - real name Sean Combs - will receive an honorary doctorate degree from Howard University in Washington DC and give a keynote speech at its graduation ceremony on May 10, despite current students blasting the decision because he dropped out from his business degree in 1990 to pursue a career in music.

One student wrote on Twitter: "Can someone explain why Diddy, a person who never graduated from Howard, is speaking at graduation?"

Another tweeted: "diddy is gonna make the commencement speech at Howard but what is he gonna say. 'Well I dropped outta here & got rich but good luck (sic).'"

But the 44-year-old star ignored the controversy as he gushed about the upcoming event on Instagram on Wednesday (16.04.14).

He wrote: "For one of the first times in my life I am truly speechless. There are no words to describe the feeling I had when I heard the news that @HowardU was presenting me with an Honorary Doctorate degree and inviting me to give the keynote commencement address on May 10th. @howardU I'm coming home! Thank you to @WFrederickMD, the Howard University Board of Trustees and all of the students of Howard University #TurnUp #Bison4Life."

A spokesperson for the university also told gossip website TMZ.com: "Howard University continues the tradition of identifying leaders whose work has clearly contributed to the advancement of their fields and the world ... We are honoured to have Mr. Combs serve as our speaker."

CNN presenter Wolf Blitzer, transplant surgeon Clive Callender, jazz composer Benny Golson and PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi are also set to speak at the 2014 Howard Commencement.

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