Shatta Wale Urges UPSA Students to Turn Ideas into Sustainable Ventures

Accra, Ghana — September 20, 2026

Ghanaian musician and entrepreneur Charles Nii Armah Mensah Jr., popularly known as Shatta Wale, has urged students of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) to develop entrepreneurial mindsets and turn their skills and ideas into sustainable businesses.

He made the call on September 16, 2026, when he addressed students during the UPSA 1000 & Ghana Entrepreneurship Conference 2026, a five-day programme focused on entrepreneurship, innovation, mentorship and enterprise development.

Focus on the mindset before the money

Speaking to students and other participants, Shatta Wale placed particular emphasis on developing the mind before pursuing financial success.

He encouraged students to learn from his approach to building a career and brand rather than simply copying his public lifestyle. His message centred on vision, discipline, resilience, adaptability and continuous learning.

“Don’t copy my life. What I would rather let you copy is my thinking,” he told the students, according to the Ghana News Agency.

He also encouraged young people to identify opportunities around them and use technology and digital platforms to develop businesses and personal brands capable of reaching markets beyond Ghana.

From problems to business ideas

The musician said aspiring entrepreneurs should learn to view challenges as potential starting points for innovation.

His advice included developing problem-solving skills, investing carefully and continually upgrading one’s knowledge. He described a process of turning problems into questions, questions into ideas and ideas into action.

Shatta Wale also cautioned against becoming complacent after achieving financial success, stressing that entrepreneurs need to keep learning and developing their capabilities.

Student entrepreneur gets collaboration opportunity

The engagement also produced a practical example of the entrepreneurial approach being promoted at the conference.

A UPSA alumna presented her yoghurt drink business to Shatta Wale and proposed a collaboration. According to UPSA, the artiste agreed to work with her after she made the pitch.

The interaction demonstrated the conference’s emphasis on encouraging young entrepreneurs to confidently present their ideas and seek opportunities.

Support for UPSA students

Beyond his presentation, Shatta Wale also announced support for the university. UPSA said he donated 10 laptops to be presented to some of the institution’s best graduating students and provided sponsorship support for the UPSA 1000 Enterprise Development Programme. He also pledged to headline UPSA SRC Week celebrations over the following two years.

UPSA Vice-Chancellor Prof. John Kwaku Mensah Mawutor said the decision to invite Shatta Wale was informed by lessons from his career in resilience, branding, self-belief and enterprise development.

Entrepreneurship beyond the classroom

The conference was organised by UPSA in partnership with the Bola Ray Institute and forms part of the university’s efforts to expose students and young entrepreneurs to practical business knowledge, mentorship and market-oriented skills.

Shatta Wale’s appearance therefore extended the entrepreneurship conversation beyond conventional business discussions, using his experience in entertainment, digital platforms, branding and business development as examples for students considering entrepreneurial careers.

The central message from the session was clear: academic qualifications can provide a foundation, but developing the ability to identify opportunities, build ideas and continuously adapt is also important in navigating the modern business environment.

Sources: Ghana News Agency and University of Professional Studies, Accra.