- Rio’s stewardship
propelled Nagaland toward progress — Guv. Ganesan

La Ganesan awarding the honorary Doctor of
Letters to Neiphiu Rio on Tuesday. (EM Images)
- DIMAPUR — In a
fitting tribute to a prolific political career spanning 50 years, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio was conferred honorary Doctor of Letters (D.Litt) by North East Christian
University (NECU), Dimapur, on Tuesday.
- Nagaland Governor La Ganesan, the Visitor of NECU, awarded
the honorary degree to chief minister during the first convocation ceremony of
NECU held at Anchor Complex, Burma Camp.
- According to the Governing Council of NECU, Rio was
conferred the honorary degree in recognition of his “outstanding contributions
to human resources development.”
- Chancellor of NECU, Prof. Rev. Dr. Akheto Sema, who read out
the citation, shared that Rio holds the record of being the longest-serving
chief minister in the state for the fifth time.
- The Chancellor mentioned that as a state leader, Rio has
been participating in many national and international events, including the
44th National Breakfast Prayer meeting programme at Washington DC, delivering
the keynote address at the World Bamboo Conference in Bangkok, Thailand, and
delivering public lecture at Queens University of Belfast, UK.
- He is also a recipient of the Mother Teresa Millennium Award
for his outstanding leadership as a renowned social worker and politician. Rio
was also awarded the National Human Rights and Duties Award by the Indian
Institute of Human Rights.
- Complementing the area of human resource development, Rio
was instrumental in establishing the Sainik School at Punglwa, encouraging
digital awareness and practice by creating the Technology Park in Kohima, and
positively supporting higher education by initiating establishment of the Northeast
Christian University and St. Joseph's University through legislative acts.