Meet Nicholas Nartey “Big Ghun”
A graduate of the MA Brands & Communications programme, whose academic journey at UPSA opened doors to a transformative international creative residency in Europe.
The University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) continues to demonstrate its commitment to producing globally competitive, future-ready graduates through strategic international exposure and industry-relevant programmes.
As an institution that prioritises experiential learning and global engagement, UPSA identified and recommended Nicholas for the ITACA Project: Executive Programme in Creative Entrepreneurship with Africa – Arts, Culture and Fashion for a Sustainable Future (CREA). This opportunity exemplifies UPSA’s deliberate effort to connect its students and alumni to high-impact global platforms that extend learning beyond the classroom.
Between 20 October and 6 December 2025, Nicholas participated in an intensive residency program that exposed him to advanced models of creative entrepreneurship, sustainability, cultural management, and innovation within the global creative economy. The experience reinforced the relevance of the knowledge and skills acquired through UPSA’s MA Brands & Communications programme, particularly in areas such as strategic branding, communication management, and creative industry development.
Throughout the residency, Nicholas engaged with real-world case studies, institutional frameworks, and industry practices that showed how creativity can be structured, scaled, and sustained as an economic force. Nicholas emphasized that; “Entering that world as a Ghanaian filmmaker and a graduate of brands and communication offered a rare chance to see how arts and business can reinforce each other when given room to flourish”. For UPSA, this aligns directly with its academic philosophy: equipping students with practical, globally applicable competencies that respond to emerging industries and market needs.
A key strength of the programme was its pan-African learning environment, bringing together creatives from Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, and other African countries. This multicultural engagement echoed UPSA’s emphasis on diversity, collaboration, and continental leadership, while reinforcing the importance of African perspectives within global creative conversations.
The residency also included educational visits to leading creative and media institutions, offering insights into how storytelling, music, film, and digital media are institutionalised and commercialised at scale. These experiences highlighted the importance of intellectual property management, creative infrastructure, and strategic partnerships, core concepts already embedded within UPSA’s postgraduate curriculum.
Returning to Ghana, Nicholas brings back not only enhanced technical knowledge, but also a refined understanding of how creativity intersects with policy, business, and sustainable development. Reflecting on his journey, he notes, “Every creative career has defining chapters, moments that stretch your understanding of what is possible and reshape your sense of purpose.” This outcome speaks directly to UPSA’s mission of producing graduates who are not only academically sound, but also socially responsible, innovative, and globally aware.
Through initiatives like this, UPSA continues to position itself as a leading professional university that blends theory with practice, local relevance with global exposure, and academic excellence with real-world impact. Nicholas Nartey’s story is a reflection of what becomes possible when institutional vision meets student potential, and a reminder of UPSA’s growing influence in shaping Africa’s next generation of creative and professional leaders.
