LuLu Group Chairman Yusuffali M.A., an entrepreneur and philanthropist who has significant retail presence in the Kingdom, was conferred with an honorary D. Litt degree by the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) of India.

LuLu Group, a hypermarket chain and retail venture has established itself as one of the preferred retail destinations with around 10 malls across the Kingdom, including three in Riyadh.

The degree was received by Yusuffali at AMU's 61st annual convocation held recently.

The LuLu owner made a generous donation of Rs. 100 million to the university.

Rahat Abrar, PRO of AMU, said: "Yusuffali announced a donation of 50 million rupees for the construction of a sports complex for girls’ students in the name of his mother. He earlier donated a separate sum of 50 million rupees for a complex for boys’ sports."

He said: "Yusuffali, a highly distinguished entrepreneur of Indian origin, felt humbled by the D. Litt degree conferred on him and paid his rich tribute to AMU Founder Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, saying that he was one of the architects of modern educated India who had strong vision for the future generations."

Addressing the convocation ceremony Yusuffali urged the AMU students to work hard to attain excellence in their higher studies and not consider their parents outdated or illiterate.

Vice President of India Mohammad Hamid Ansari was the chief guest at the annual convocation.

Speaking at the function, he urged AMU students to “pursue scientific research and innovation; we are living in a highly competitive global knowledge society with receding horizons in which mediocrity means irrelevance.”