Inaugurating the Commerce Building at Fazl Ali College in Mokokchung on Friday, Nagaland minister for Higher Education and Tourism, Temjen Imna Along, said that the new building marks a significant step toward transforming the state’s oldest college into one of the first multi-disciplinary government colleges in Nagaland.
Apart from inaugurating the Commerce Building, Imna Along also laid the foundation stone for the college’s new academic building under PM-USHA in the presence V Lovitoly Sema, Joint Secretary of H&TE and Ex-Officio Director of Higher Education, Government of Nagaland.
In his address, Imna Along assured that the new building under PM-USHA, which continues the efforts of RUSA (Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan), will be completed in a timely manner, unlike the Commerce Building, which took six years to finish from 2015 to 2021. He also said that the unfinished RUSA building will be completed before the onset of the next rainy season.
Imna Along expressed his vision for Nagaland’s higher education institutions, aiming to enhance the quality of human resources in the state. He said that the prosperity of both the state and nation is dependent on the quality of its people, and that he aspires for education to serve as a key driver for progress in Nagaland.
V Lovitoly Sema noted that the new building, funded under PM-USHA, is a centrally sponsored scheme with a funding ratio of 90:10 between the Government of India and the Government of Nagaland. She stated that construction will commence once all necessary formalities are completed.
Dr I Wati Imchen, Principal of FAC, shared that the proposal to introduce a B.Com program at FAC began in 2013. He acknowledged Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio consenting to the construction of a commerce building in FAC, during the Ao Students Conference in 2014 at Chuchuyimpang village,and he kept his promise, he said. He expressed gratitude to the Ao Senden, Ongpangkong Mungdang, Ao Students Conference, and Chuchuyimpang Students Union for their efforts in establishing the commerce stream.
Er Hokato, Executive Engineer of the PWD (H) Education Division, provided a technical report stating that the Commerce Building covers an area of 7,068 square feet and includes eight classrooms. Originally budgeted at Rs 2.5 crores, an additional Rs 1.5 crores was secured through the minister’s initiatives, ensuring the project’s completion.
Marsanen Imsong, President of the Ao Senden, described the day as a historic moment for the college and expressed heartfelt thanks to Minister Imna Along and the education department for their support in realizing the dream.
The program concluded with a prayer led by Rev. Ponen Longchar, Pastor of MTBA, and was chaired by Imlinungla, Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Zoology.