Youths are the engine of growth — Manipur Governor

Our Correspondent

Imphal, April 27 (EMN): Manipur Governor La Ganesan said that the youths of the country are the engine of growth and therefore, they should be equipped with knowledge, skill, wisdom and dedication. The youth should be encouraged to come up with innovative ideas to find solutions to every problem, he added.

The governor was speaking at the 35th convocation ceremony of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) Regional Centre, Imphal on Tuesday.

He said, “We are one of the youngest nations in the world with around 65 percent of our population under the age of 35. Our vision should be to make India ‘numero uno’ in the world.”

Stating that IGNOU Imphal Centre is serving the state as well as internationally, he informed that its Moreh centre serves the educational needs of international students since the town is located on the international border with Myanmar.

The opening of three study centres at Moreh, Kakching and Thoubal recently has enabled the students to avail facilities for learning.

While acknowledging the fact that IGNOU is a university catering to the educational needs of prospective learners through open and distance mode, he said it is commendable and praiseworthy that the university is providing affordable education to the underprivileged students and reaching the door step of the learners with its excellent student support system.

Congratulating all the students, the governor said that convocation is a special occasion, when the years of academic life culminate into a coveted degree. Let this not be an ending to academic life but mark a new beginning for all the future subjects, he added.

Citing the importance of IGNOU in imparting education to all sections in the society, Regional Director of IGNOU Regional Centre Imphal, Dr. SJ Neethirajan said the village level awareness programmes especially in the remote interior areas will be conducted to enroll students in different programmes in the university.

Governor also distributed degree, diploma certificates to the students in the ceremony. Altogether 1,239 students completed their degree, diploma and certificate programme this year.

It may be mentioned that IGNOU also offers free education to jail inmates.