Akok Walling, speaking at the Mokokchung Ao Officers Telongjem Foundation Day and General Meeting, held at Sangtemla Multipurpose Hall on October 16.
Morung Express News
Mokokchung | October 16
The Mokokchung Ao Officers Telongjem (MAOT) marked its Foundation Day and General Meeting at the Sangtemla Multipurpose Hall, on October 16 with Rev Dr Chingmak, Secretary of Eleutheros Christian Society (ECS), and Akok Walling, retired Principal from the Department of Higher Education, Nagaland, as the keynote speakers.
Akok Walling spoke on “Vision Mokokchung 2040 - Reinvigoration,” highlighting the urgent need to reinvigorate the plan, which has seen little progress in the past nine years. Vision Mokokchung 2040 aims to transform Mokokchung into a prosperous district by 2040, focusing on enhancing infrastructure, healthcare, education, agriculture, and governance, while addressing challenges like illegal immigration through local self-reliance.
Walling emphasised that the vision is a people’s movement, urging officers to break free from a “blame game” mentality and actively contribute to its realization. He stressed the importance of recognizing each other’s potential and working together, reinforcing the need for unity and collective action among the community and various departments.
Rev Dr Chingmak, speaking on “Empowering the Community,” invoked the African proverb, “It takes a community to nurture a child,” as he addressed the generational gap that has led to a decline in community engagement. He urged the officers to bridge this gap and emphasized that many societal issues begin at home and within the community.
Dr Chingmak shared success stories from the ECS’s work in Changlashu and Mopong Primary Health Centers (PHCs), where community involvement in the selection of healthcare professionals has resulted in improved accountability and service. He stressed the role of the community, including the church and students, in taking ownership of initiatives, which leads to long-term success.
Exhorting the officers, Marsanen Imsong, President of Ao Senden, stated that the program was a noble function, as it gathered the officers of the community who lead the people. The Aos were given the tag of pioneers due to the hard work of their forefathers, who had traveled to other parts of the state to spread the word of God and education, bringing blessings upon the community.
Imsong emphasised that the current officers have a significant responsibility to follow in the footsteps of their forefathers by working with honesty and fostering unity among the Aos. However, this unity, he stressed, should not be only for the community, but instead, to extend help to other communities, ensuring that the blessings continue to be passed down to future generations.
Thsüvisie Phoji NCS, Deputy Commissioner of Mokokchung, in his exhortation, referred to the Bible, noting that humble individuals were often chosen to lead. He observed that the Aos are a humble and peaceful people, perhaps explaining why God sent missionaries to Ao land.
Phoji reflected on the many pioneering leaders and officers the Aos had produced in the past but questioned whether the current generation is leading from the front. He urged the officers to consider whether they are keeping pace with the rest of the state, adding that the Naga people do not resent the Aos, but rather expect them to be trendsetters and torchbearers, just as their predecessors were.
Er Temsu Wathi Ao, Senior Technical Director and DIO of Mokokchung, shared that MAOT, founded on October 10, 2010, is now celebrating its 14th year with the mission to empower the Ao community and Nagas at large. He also announced plans to expand the organization’s reach to include officers from nearby districts.
