Tetso College was declared the overall champion of Nagaland Influencers Summit Pow-woW Lore 2026: Youth Quill & Canvas, a national-level youth festival, during the grand closing ceremony held at Tetso College on Friday
DIMAPUR — Tetso College was declared the overall champion of Nagaland Influencers Summit Pow-woW Lore 2026: Youth Quill & Canvas, a national-level youth festival, during the grand closing ceremony held at Tetso College on Friday while St Joseph College, Jakhama secured the runners-up position.
An update issued on Friday informed that the ceremony marked the conclusion of the multi-day festival, which brought together young people from across the state to celebrate creativity, culture, literature, artistic expression and the diverse voices of the youth.
The ceremony was attended by around 900 people, including external guests, volunteers, student participants and faculty members from various institutions.
Delivering the welcome address, Dr. Hewasa L. Khing, Principal, Tetso College, expressed appreciation to the organisers, sponsors, guests, participants, faculty members and volunteers for their contributions towards the festival. She also highlighted the importance of creating platforms that enable young people to explore and showcase their talents.
Nise Meruno, International Concert Pianist and Yamaha Artist, Artistic Director and Adjunct Professor of Music at Tetso College, attended the ceremony as guest of honour. He addressed the gathering and expressed his appreciation for platforms that provide opportunities for individuals to showcase their talent and creativity through culturally integrated initiatives.
Reflecting on life, he described people as “travellers in life” and highlighted three S’s : “Sincerity, Story and Soul” as guiding principles.
He spoke about his affection for Nagaland, its people, culture and heritage, and encouraged young participants to recognise the connection between artistic expression and character.
“Your art can only be as beautiful as your heart,” said Meruno, while encouraging the youth to nurture creativity, purpose and aspiration. He concluded his address with a performance of ‘Kiss the Rain’ by Yiruma.
The closing programme featured “Walk Your Heritage with Pride,” a cultural performance celebrating cultural identity and heritage, followed by “Heroes and Icons: A Cosplay Showcase,” which highlighted creativity and contemporary pop-culture interests among the youth.
Certificates were distributed to students and participants in recognition of their participation and contributions across the various events and competitions held during the festival.
The ceremony concluded with the closing remarks and declaration of the overall champion by Dr Asenla Yanger, Convenor, NIS Pow-woW Lore 2026: Youth Quill & Canvas. She expressed gratitude to collaborators, faculty members, students, volunteers and other stakeholders for their support and contribution towards the successful conduct of the festival.
The grand closing ceremony brought the festival to a memorable conclusion. The event reflected the spirit of Youth Quill & Canvas through its celebration of creativity, culture, literature and youth expression, while providing a platform for young people to share their talents, ideas and culture.