Nicki Minaj has given back in a huge way, paying university tuition for dozens of fans in a burst of generosity on Twitter. 

The US rapper's unwitting transformation into educational benefactor took place over the weekend when she tweeted about a Billboard Music Awards contest. Minaj invited her 20 million Twitter followers to shoot their own videos for one of her new songs for a chance to win a trip to Las Vegas to see her perform at the awards show later this month. 

Then one respondent said she would rather have help in paying for university and surprisingly, Minaj agreed.

"Show me straight A's that I can verify with your school and I'll pay it. Who wants to join THAT contest?!?! Dead serious," she tweeted.

Minaj soon responded to 30 tweets seeking help in paying for university tuition, which can be notoriously expensive in the US, or to cover student loans or textbooks.

One Twitter user -- whose handle is Dash Minaj in apparent tribute to the rapper -- was overjoyed after she pledged to pay the 1,800 US dollars he said he needed to resume his studies at Ohio University.

"My idol is paying for me to go back to school. I'm literally in... tears," he tweeted.

Minaj ended the charity spree by tweeting, "It's been fun. Let me make those payments tomorrow then see if I have any money left. I'll do some more in a month or two."

Minaj, who was born in Trinidad and raised in New York, won a spot at the city's prestigious public LaGuardia High School for aspiring artists and did not go on to university.

In March, the 34-year-old Minaj surpassed Aretha Franklin as the female artist who has had the most songs on the Billboard Hot 100 chart of top US singles.

Minaj has landed 76 songs on the chart after releasing three singles in March, including her latest collaboration with superstar Drake.

Forbes magazine estimated that Minaj earned 20.5 million dollars in the 12 months to June 2016, making her the only woman among the year's richest hip-hop artists.

(Source: AFP)