I walked to Mensah Sarbah Hall grounds for “Ascenova’26” expecting music, noise, and the usual hall week vibes. What I left with was something deeper. As an NSS personnel with Y107.9FM and someone who was there from the clean-up to the rave night, I saw how one week can shape students beyond the classroom.
For me, “Ascenova’26” meant a comeback with purpose. It wasn’t just about reunion and raving. It was about reminding us that university is not only lectures and CGPA. It’s about wellness, community, responsibility, and finding your voice. And Y107.9FM being there as the youth partner made sure those voices were actually heard.
What I Saw and What It Meant
The week opened with a clean-up exercise. At first I thought, “just sweeping.” But watching students take ownership of their space made it clear: leadership is service. Responsibility starts with where you live.
Hundreds of students in Sarbah colors also embarked on a health walk. It was symbolic. Health is wealth, and starting the week by choosing our bodies told me that self-care can be communal.
The football gala wasn’t just goals and cheers. I saw students who barely talk become teammates. I saw stress drop from people’s shoulders. For students carrying assignments and financial pressure, that 90 minutes was therapy.
The cooking contest brought out creativity I didn’t expect. Soup vs jollof debates turned into laughter, not arguments. It showed me how culture connects us when we stop competing and start sharing.
Then came the quiet but powerful ones. The wellness check where students checked BP, sugar, and talked to nurses. The blood donation / life saver drive where people rolled up their sleeves to save lives they’ll never meet. The Professional Pathways session on financial literacy that proved “budgeting” and “investing as a student” is not optional. These reminded me that caring for yourself and planning for tomorrow is also part of “making it” in school.
And yes, we had fun too. Paint and Sip brought out artists in people who said they “can’t draw.” Karaoke night turned shy voices into crowd favorites. Rave night with YFM DJs, Pappy Kojo and Skonti shut down the hall with energy.
What I Learnt
1. Balance is survival. Ascenova’26 proved that play and purpose can exist together. Students who took part in wellness and career sessions came back to class more focused.
2. Small platforms create big confidence. The student who did 30 seconds on our YFM Open Mic told me, “This is the first time I’ve spoken to so many people.” That’s growth.
3. Community is built in the in-between. It wasn’t just in the big concert. It was on the health walk, in the donation line, in shared food, and in the conversations after events.
4. Communication is everything in events. The difference between a full house and an empty room was simply if people knew the time.
How I’m Applying It to PR, Events and Marketing
This experience is already shaping how I work at YFM and how I see my future in PR, events and marketing.
1. PR is about storytelling, not just hype. I learnt that people connect when you make space for real stories. At YFM, I’m now asking better questions on air and reading voice notes that make listeners feel seen. That’s PR.
2. Events succeed on planning + communication. Late starts and low turnout taught me that even the best event fails without a clear comms plan. Moving forward, I’ll always push for a broadcast schedule, run-of-show, and partner debrief. That’s event management.
3. Marketing is about inclusion. The rave brought numbers, but Paint n Sip and Karaoke brought different crowds. I learnt that a good marketing strategy speaks to all personalities, not just the loudest.
4. Brand partnerships must add value. YFM didn’t just show up to play music. We amplified student voices and tied activities to wellness and career growth. That’s how a brand becomes relevant. The financial literacy session also pushed me to start tracking my own NSS allowance better.
“Ascenova’26” reminded me why Y107.9FM calls itself the Voice of Students and the Young at Heart. Because when radio meets campus life the right way, it doesn’t just entertain. It teaches, it heals, and it builds.
And that, to me, is a hall week worth remembering.
By Mary Larbi, NSS Personnel, Y107.9FM