Kuwait Univ. confers honorary Ph.D. degree on Abdulaziz Al-Babtain

KUWAIT, May 27 (KUNA) -- Abdulaziz Al-Babtain, chairman of the board of trustees of Abdulaziz Al-Babtain Cultural Foundation, deserves the honorary PH.D degree conferred on him by the University of Kuwait in tribute to his indefatigable pursuit of promoting the merits of poetry and literature in general, said a Kuwaiti minister on Wednesday.
Minister of Education and Higher Education Dr. Bader Al-Eissa, attending a ceremony at the university honoring Al-Babtain, said he was proud of the honoree for having persevered over so many years to propagate the virtues of culture and fine arts all across the Arab world and beyond. He has done that so well that he has become a national celebrity and a man of great distinction, said the minister.
Echoing the minister's sentiments was vice-president of the University of Kuwait, Dr. Hayat Al-Hajji, who noted at the ceremony that Al-Babtain's contributions to cultural affairs included his organizing innumerable literary and cultural seminars and forums and his establishing a number of translation centers.
She said Al-Babtain has capped his lifelong pursuit of culture by having been awarded 11 honorary Ph.D. degrees from universities and colleges and numerous medals from heads of Arab states.
In a brief speech at the ceremony today, the honoree expressed his delight for having received his 12th honorary degree, which he said he valued since it has come from the highest source of education in the country. (end) ss.ajs