Rev. Hukugha Zhimo, Senior Pastor Satakha Town Baptist Church and former Executive Secretary of the Sumi Baptist Akukuhou Kuqhakulu Nito Mount (SBAKNM) inaugurating the Center at Zunheboto on August 9. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News
Zunheboto | August 9
In a significant move to support aspiring candidates from the region, "Aspirants Hub," the first-ever competitive exam coaching center in Zunheboto district, was inaugurated on August 9. The center was formally dedicated by Rev. Hukugha Zhimo, Senior Pastor Satakha Town Baptist Church and former Executive Secretary of the Sumi Baptist Akukuhou Kuqhakulu Nito Mount (SBAKNM).
The founder of Aspirants Hub, Toka Chiqhe, hailing from Satoi Village and currently residing in Satakha Town, addressed the media at the inauguration. A civil engineering graduate from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University, Lucknow (Class of 2021), Toka shared the inspiration behind the initiative.
“Being an aspirant myself, I’ve taken coaching from various institutes. While searching for options, a question struck me, why not have a coaching center in Zunheboto itself?” he said. “After much thought and research, I realized that many aspirants from our district have to travel to Kohima or Dimapur to pursue coaching. This is financially draining, especially for those from middle and lower-income families. Even if coaching is free, they still have to bear the high cost of living away from home.”
Toka emphasized that the quality of mentors and materials provided at Aspirants Hub is on par with what aspirants receive in larger cities. “Why not start small? Even if our building and classrooms are modest, we can still offer top-notch education. It took us almost six months from planning to inauguration,” he shared.
Currently, the center is offering combined coaching for NPSC and NSSB at a discounted fee of Rs 25,000 for six months, a package that was originally priced at Rs 30,000. The fee can also be paid in instalments over two phases of three months each.
The coaching center presently accommodates 20 aspirants, guided by three mentors, some of whom have cleared NSSB exams, while others have qualified in NPSC Mains and are currently serving in various roles.
A unique feature of Aspirants Hub is the incorporation of the Sumi language (“Sutsa”) in classroom instruction. “Many of our students are from the Sumi community. Teaching in our mother tongue helps with better understanding and long-term memory retention,” Toka noted.
Operating from 9 AM to 4 PM, the center also uses WhatsApp channels to distribute study materials and share updates with students.
Speaking at the event, Rev. Hukugha Zhimo praised the initiative, calling it a much-needed development for the town and district. “This is the first coaching center in Zunheboto, and I appreciate Toka, his friends, and his family for their self-motivation and dedication. Such efforts help not only themselves but also the youth of the region who are preparing for competitive exams,” he said.
He further added, “Now, our youth can get quality coaching in their own hometown without bearing the high expenses of living in cities like Kohima or Dimapur. Many bright and deserving aspirants, especially from underprivileged backgrounds, were missing out due to financial constraints. This initiative is a step toward bridging that gap.”
