Kohima Okotso Union (KOU) celebrated twenty five years of existence on Wednesday at AMK building with advisor Horticulture and Border Affairs Mhathung Yanthan as the special guest.
Yanthan congratulated the KOU for successfully attaining 25 years and honoured the pioneers and founding members for their far-sighted vision in forming the union, an umbrella to take care of Okotso villagers.
Asserting that many Okotso villagers settled in Kohima for livelihood, Mhathung however said that one should not forget the roots, the village from where they had come from.
He maintained that one must participate in social activities and leave a legacy for the younger generations.
Yanthan also urged the government servants to be sincere in their assignments and to work beyond their assignments to ensure that they do not regret after retirement from service.
Okotso being one of the leading villages amongst Lotha community in Christianity, Yanthan reminded that Okotso village has earned good image not only being the first village to accept Christianity but in many aspects and thereby he said the reputation must be maintained through unity.
He urged them to keep up to the good work of the ancestors and said the village has more responsibility to set an example for others to follow.
Further he said there are many good government programmes and scheme yet unfortunately it was misused thereby many villagers were relocating in search of better avenues away from their village.
He said the villagers must be educated and through proper implementation of the various schemes, villages can prosper.
Being from a reputed and advanced village and Okotso and Lakhuti villages being reference villages, he urged the Okotso villagers to be an ambassador for the village, Lothas and Nagas in general.
Chairman Okotso Village council, Wokha and Dimapur Okotsoe Ekhung, delivered greetings while pastor Okotso Baptist Church pronounced dedicatory prayer.