Says his in-kind donation is rooted in his belief that a better Liberia is possible, with education being the key to unlocking Liberia’s huge potential.
Monrovia, Liberia – The Suehn Legacy Circle has received three million Liberian dollars (US$16,900) in building materials from businessman Upjit Singh Sachdeva to start rebuilding the historic Suehn Industrial Academy, which was established in 1912 but has been in ruins since the end of the nation’s fourteen-year civil war.
The Academy, financed by entrepreneurs Solomon Hill and June Moore of the Hill and Moore Trading Company, was one of the cornerstones of Liberia’s education system, educating some of the country’s most prominent leaders, including former Senate President Pro Tempore Charles Walker Brumskine and former Chief Justice Frances Johnson-Morris, among others.
Mr. Sachdeva, also known as “Jeety,” stated in his keynote speech at the Suehn Legacy Circle Fundraising Gala that his support for Suehn Industrial Academy’s reconstruction stems from his strong conviction that education is the key to realizing Liberia’s enormous potential.
“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,” Mr. Jeety added.
Jeety claims that although he is “Indian by passport,” he is “a Liberian by heart” and that the Suehn Academy’s renovation is very important to him since it contains a legacy that must be preserved for Liberia’s future generations.
“The fall of Suehn Industrial Academy means we lose more than physical structures; we lose memory, continuity, and the pathways that connect one generation to the next,” Sachdeva said at the Fundraising Gala on January 9 at the Monrovia City Hall.
“On this note, I am committing (giving), on behalf of myself, my life partner and Jeety Conglomerate, three million Liberian dollars in building materials to kick-start the long-awaited reconstruction of the Suehn Industrial Academy,” Mr. Jeety announced. “This is a commitment rooted in a belief that a better Liberia is possible, and that education is the key to unlocking Liberia’s huge potential. The task of reconstruction is not a sentimental exercise but a responsibility, and an obligation to the future we cannot afford to miss.”
Mr. Jeety further noted that the greatest privilege of his life is the transformation he has on countless lives that may never know his name, “yet will live better because of the impact we had on them.”
The donation by Mr. Jeety, which was the highest fund the Suehn Legacy Circle raised, can go a long way in rebuilding some of the ruins of the Suehn Industrial Academy which are still standing strong. It comes as building materials remain expensive, making the in-kind donation significant in reconstruction efforts.
Sara Beysolow-Nyanti, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, gave US$5,000 to the restoration effort on behalf of herself and her siblings, making her the second-highest donor. This brings the total amount committed to little over US$23K.
The goal of the Suehn Academy’s restoration project is to make the institution active again rather than just keeping it as a historical landmark. The school’s organizers hope that it will once more offer the next generation of Liberians a character-based education focused on compassion and discipline.
LeRoy Boikai of the Suehn Legacy Circle stated earlier that Suehn’s history is a national inheritance that merits national attention rather than a private remembrance.
Rebuilding the Suehn Industrial Academy presents a strategic chance to restore what already carries trust, identity, and heritage, Dr. Boikai continued, adding that Liberia is in a position where cooperation, shared responsibility, and long-term investment in education are crucial.
“This evening marks more than a fundraising event,” he said. “It marks the launch of a restoration pathway grounded in partnership, transparency, and collective national interest.”
The gala ended with tributes paid to individuals whose lives embodied Suehn Industrial Academy’s enduring values. Those honored in memoriam were Mrs. Victoria A. Tolbert, celebrated for strengthening Christian education and Baptist schools across Liberia; Rev. Dr. E. Torma Reeves, a pillar of Baptist leadership and historic Providence Baptist Church; and Mrs. Dinah Brown-Barr, a trailblazing home economist whose work advanced family life and nutrition.
Others were Rev. Gbessi W.F. Kemah, remembered for compassionate ministry at Suehn Mission; and Hon. Ballah K.M. Davis, a respected educator and statesman instrumental in Suehn’s later years. The honorees also included the late Mrs. Agnes Nebo Von Ballmoos, recognized for preserving Suehn’s legacy nationally and internationally, and Cllr. Charles W. Brumskine, cited for shaping Liberia’s modern democratic discourse.
Jeety issued a challenge to the Suehn Legacy Circle to do everything within their power to guarantee that, in this year 2026, the restoration of the Suehn Industrial Academy will show tangible improvements, with ribbons being cut to certain structures.
Mr. Jeety reminded the Suehn Academy alumni that everyone, regardless of income, may contribute to the school’s restoration, no matter how big or small, if they refuse to accept that the school’s history would end in ruins rather than be restored.
“It is my hope that, one year from now, we will be in Suehn cutting the ribbon to a new Suehn Industrial Academy,” Mr. Jeety added. “This transformation is possible and it is not fantasy; this is something we can achieve together.”
“Let us refuse to accept that the history of the Suehn Industrial Academy will die in ruins rather than be restored,” he said. “I want you to know that every commitment, large or small, will be honored, stewarded with integrity, and invested in reconstructing the Suehn Industrial Academy.”
Mr. Jeety stated that he engages in humanitarian activities, such as the hot-cooked meal feeding program and healthcare outreach assistance, since it is God’s work, not for his own glory but to show others the blessings of God in his life.
He pointed out that since March 2020, the feeding program which began as a once-weekly endeavor in 2017 has developed into a daily program that runs seven days a week, providing food to approximately 2,200 residents of Monrovia, the surrounding settlements, and Weala, Margibi County.
“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. The criticism even motivates me even more to continue,” Mr. Jeety added.
“As a Sikh, I am guided by the principles of Kirat Karō (work hard to earn an honest living), Nām Japō (meditate on His Name), and Vand Chhakō (share your earnings and food with the needy). These teachings light the path of humanity within me, serving as a guide toward a life rooted in truth, equality, and compassion, one that centers on God’s presence, honest work, and communal well-being,” he noted.
