Monrovia, Liberia — Business tycoon Upjit Singh Sachdeva, popularly known as Jeety, has donated LD$3 million (approximately US$16,900) in building materials to kick-start the reconstruction of the 114-year-old Suehn Industrial Academy, one of Liberia’s most historic educational institutions.
The in-kind donation, presented at the Suehn Legacy Circle Fundraising Gala held on January 9 at Monrovia City Hall, marks the single largest contribution raised toward the school’s restoration. Founded in 1912, the Suehn Industrial Academy has remained in ruins since the end of Liberia’s 14-year civil conflict.
Suehn Industrial Academy, financed by entrepreneurs Solomon Hill and June Moore of the Hill and Moore Trading Company, was once a cornerstone of Liberia’s education system. The institution produced several of the nation’s most distinguished leaders, including former Senate President Pro Tempore Cllr. Charles Walker Brumskine and former Chief Justice Frances Johnson-Morris.
Speaking during his keynote address, Mr. Sachdeva emphasized that his support for Suehn’s reconstruction is rooted in his firm belief that education is central to Liberia’s long-term development.
“This commitment is rooted in the belief that a better Liberia is possible, and that education is the key to unlocking Liberia’s huge potential,” Jeety said. He further noted that the collapse of Suehn represents more than physical decay. “The fall of Suehn Industrial Academy means we lose more than structures; we lose memory, continuity, and the pathways that connect one generation to the next,” he told attendees.
Describing himself as “an Indian by passport but a Liberian by heart,” Jeety said the academy’s legacy resonates deeply with him, making its restoration a moral responsibility rather than a symbolic gesture. “The greatest privilege of life is the transformation we have on countless lives that may never know our names, yet will live better because of the impact we had on them,” he added.
Jeety announced that the donation was made on behalf of himself, his life partner, and the Jeety Conglomerate, noting that rebuilding Suehn is an obligation Liberia cannot afford to ignore.
Although Jeety’s donation was unmatched, Foreign Affairs Minister Sara Beysolow-Nyanti, on behalf of herself and her siblings, pledged US$5,000, making her the second-highest donor. Total commitments from the gala exceeded US$23,000.
Given the rising cost of construction materials, organizers described Jeety’s in-kind contribution as especially significant to early reconstruction efforts.
The Suehn Legacy Circle emphasized that the goal is not merely to preserve the academy as a monument, but to restore it to full operational status, capable of delivering character-based education rooted in discipline and compassion.
Speaking earlier, LeRoy Boikai of the Suehn Legacy Circle said Suehn’s history belongs to the nation. Suehn’s history is not private memory; it is national inheritance,” he said. Dr. Boikai added that rebuilding the academy presents a strategic opportunity to invest in an institution that already carries trust, identity, and legacy.
“This evening marks more than a fundraising event; it marks the launch of a restoration pathway grounded in partnership, transparency, and collective national interest,” he stated.
The gala concluded with tributes to individuals whose lives embodied Suehn Industrial Academy’s values. Honorees included Mrs. Victoria A. Tolbert, Rev. Dr. E. Torma Reeves, Mrs. Dinah Brown-Barr, Rev. Gbessi W.F. Kemah, and Hon. Ballah K.M. Davis Also recognized were Mrs. Agnes Nebo Von Ballmoos for preserving Suehn’s legacy globally, and Cllr. Charles W. Brumskine for his role in shaping Liberia’s democratic discourse.
Jeety challenged the Suehn Legacy Circle and alumni to ensure visible reconstruction progress by 2026, expressing hope that ribbon-cutting ceremonies would soon be held at newly restored buildings. “Let us refuse to accept that the history of Suehn Industrial Academy will die in ruins rather than be restored,” he urged, stressing that every contribution—large or small—matters.
Addressing public criticism, Jeety said his humanitarian initiatives are driven by faith, not recognition. “No matter what people say, or the negative criticism spread on social media just because I am an Indian, I will never stop doing God’s work,” he declared. He highlighted his hot-cooked meal feeding program, which began as a weekly initiative in 2017 and expanded in March 2020 into a daily operation feeding over 2,200 people across Monrovia, nearby communities, and Weala in Margibi County.
Drawing from his Sikh faith, Jeety cited the principles of Kirat Karō, Nām Japō, and Vand Chhakō, which emphasize honest work, spiritual devotion, and sharing with the needy. “These teachings guide me toward a life rooted in truth, equality, and compassion,” he concluded.
