Three path breaking young innovators are recipients of first EAIF award
Our Correspondent
Kohima | October 26
Three young Naga innovators were the recipient of the first edition of the Entrepreneurs Associates Innovation Fund (EAIF) Award today at the “Stimulating Innovation & Entrepreneurship in the North East” programme here under the aegis of Entrepreneurs Associates (EA).
Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio formally launched EAIF Award today and also handed over the awards to the young Naga innovators.
The recipients were Zenwang Konyak with his innovation “U-Harvest or Umbrella Harvest”, Peihauding Zeliang- “Organic healing paste and a bio-enhancer” and Tsenshithung Yanthan- “Band saw (Portable sawmill).” The award carried Rs. 2 lakh each with three years of free mentorship.
Through the EAIF Award, EA said it acknowledges ideas developed by innovators and hopes to ignite the innovative and scientific temper in the society and open doors, which were inaccessible before.
Addressing the function, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio urged the entrepreneurs to dream big and grow. Stating that job opportunity in the government sector has reached a saturation point, Rio said the only solution for employment to build up economy is the entrepreneurship and business.
“To build up our economy we all have to work very hard with innovation and initiatives and dream big,” he said. Our situation is not very conducive for business ventures. But we have to survive. So we have to innovate and we have to find ways how to survive, he said.
He urged Naga youth to always focus on inventing and discovering new things as there is always competition in this modern world. “We have our own area of strength,” he said citing the state’s potential in textiles, tourism sector, agro based industries and mostly organic product.
EA to make Nagaland an innovation hub: Doulo
EA CEO & coordinator, Neichute Doulo said EA will work to make Nagaland an innovation hub for north east and sought the support and partnership of the government to make it happen.
He requested the Chief Minister to help EA access start up finance from financial institutes by providing a state government guarantee, adding that such initiative will foster start ups to bloom in Nagaland.
Doulo was optimistic that the first edition of EA’s innovation award 2018 will trigger innovations in Nagaland and its immediate neighbours.
“This historic launch will change the landscape of entrepreneurship in our region,” he said.
