Nagaland governor Dr. Ashwani Kumar who is also the chief Rector of NU, Wednesday assured unstinted support in improving infrastructure of the university.
Exhorting the gathering, Kumar said he was ever willing to play a role in guiding academic research and contribute in preparing a long term vision/plans for the development of various NU campuses. He also said that the presence of Centre for Gandhian Studies and Research signified that the youth and people yearn for peace.
Two centres that has left powerful impression on him, Kumar said was the Centre for Sustainability Leadership at Cambridge University and the Lumami Campus (NU). “Not because they have achieved something great, but because both of thses have created a hope for achieving something in the future”.
Keeping in mind the various challenges faced by the University, Kumar urged the gathering to jointly resolve “these weaknesses into strengths and threats into opportunities”. Kumar also assured the President that he would leave no stone unturned to further develop all the five schools, 31 departments and more than 51 colleges, to ensure to that the people of Northeast and India are proud of the achievements of NU.
He also promised to impart best quality education and carry out research in the following five core areas, to be relevant in the next 50 years: (i) Sustainable Development (ii) Good Governance (iii) Empowerment of Women (iv) Conservation of Natural Environment (v) Preservation of Tribal culture.
Become agents of change, Rio urges NU students’
Stating that the “six decade old Naga political problem issue” required an ‘out of the box’ thinking and approach for solution, chief minister Neiphiu Rio urged the students to become “agents of change for the betterment of the society”.
Speaking at the 3rd NU Convocation, Rio said: “Your test will come when you leave the four walls of the university, and face the practical challenges of life waiting outside.”
Pointing out that NU despite being a Central University, Rio said the university still lack in many areas, including infrastructure as compared to other Central Universities in India.
He also reminded everyone the vision that former Prime Minister, late Rajiv Gandhi had for the university.
Rio asked the gathering to introspect on “what the University has achieved in the last 19 years, to what extent the vision of Rajiv Gandhi have been realized, what have been the shortcomings and how they can be addressed..”
As compared to other developed countries, Nagaland with a youthful population, Rio said it is an advantage “because our English-speaking educated youth are our real assets in the emerging global market”.
At the same time, Rio said they could be a liability if “we cannot utilize them, or find jobs for them”. Despite many constraints and challenges that has plagued the University since inception, Rio said NU has finally emerged out of its troubled past and was steadily improving itself.
He also congratulated Prof. B.K Konwar, VC for presiding over the most peaceful period so far in the history of the University.
During the last, 19 years, Rio said NU has made commendable contributions in shaping the life of the youth of Nagaland.
He said, this has been possible because of the hard work and commitment of the teachers and staff of NU.
While congratulating the successful students, Rio reminded that “every privilege also carries corresponding duties and obligations to the society and nation at large.
He also congratulated Dr. S.C Jamir and Prof. Mrinal Miri for receiving their Doctoral degree, Honoris Causa.
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