Jeety Pledges LD$3M to Rebuild Suehn Academy-Continuing Years of Helping Liberia’s Needy

MONROVIA – Liberia has long benefited from the humanitarian endeavors of Upjit Singh Sachdeva, popularly known as Jeety, whose corporate social responsibility initiatives have earned him widespread recognition across both private and public spheres. From feeding over 2,200 Liberians daily to supporting healthcare and community programs, Jeety’s impact has been tangible and sustained. On January 9, he extended this legacy by donating three million Liberian dollars in building materials to the Suehn Legacy Circle, aimed at reconstructing the historic Suehn Industrial Academy. Founded in 1912, the Academy has been in ruins since the civil war, and Jeety’s contribution signals a renewed investment in Liberia’s educational future. For Jeety, restoring Suehn is both a continuation of his long-standing commitment to social upliftment and a testament to the transformative power of education in unlocking Liberia’s potential. The Analyst reports.

Business tycoon Upjit Singh Sachdeva, popularly known as “Jeety,” has donated three million Liberian dollars (US$16,900) in building materials to the Suehn Legacy Circle to begin the reconstruction of the historic Suehn Industrial Academy. Founded in 1912, the Academy has lain in ruins since the end of Liberia’s 14-year civil war.

The Academy, originally financed by entrepreneurs Solomon Hill and June Moore of Hill and Moore Trading Company, educated some of Liberia’s most prominent leaders, including former Senate President Pro Tempore Charles Walker Brumskine and former Chief Justice Frances Johnson-Morris.

Speaking at the Suehn Legacy Circle Fundraising Gala on January 9 at Monrovia City Hall, Mr. Sachdeva said his support for the reconstruction stems from a long-standing belief that a better Liberia is possible, with education serving as the key to unlocking the country’s 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,” he said.

While Jeety is “an Indian by passport,” he described himself as “a Liberian by heart,” noting that restoring Suehn is a personal mission to revive a legacy for 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,” he said.

Announcing his donation, he added: “On behalf of myself, my life partner, and Jeety Conglomerate, I commit three million Liberian dollars in building materials to kick-start the long-awaited reconstruction. This is not a sentimental exercise but a responsibility, an obligation to the future we cannot afford to miss.”

Jeety’s contribution was the largest the Suehn Legacy Circle has received, helping address the high cost of building materials in Liberia. While unmatched in size, Minister of Foreign Affairs Sara Beysolow-Nyanti pledged US$5,000 on behalf of herself and her siblings, becoming the second-largest donor and bringing total funds to just over US$23,000.

The restoration effort aims to return the school to operational status, rather than preserving it solely as a historical monument. Organizers hope the Academy will once again provide character-based education grounded in discipline and compassion, preparing future generations of Liberians.

LeRoy Boikai of the Suehn Legacy Circle emphasized that the Academy’s history is a national inheritance deserving public attention. “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 said.

Tributes were paid to individuals whose lives embodied Suehn’s enduring values, including Mrs. Victoria A. Tolbert, Rev. Dr. E. Torma Reeves, Mrs. Dinah Brown-Barr, Rev. Gbessi W.F. Kemah, Hon. Ballah K.M. Davis, the late Mrs. Agnes Nebo Von Ballmoos, and Cllr. Charles W. Brumskine.

Jeety challenged the Suehn Legacy Circle to ensure that by 2026, practical reconstruction gains, including ribbon-cutting for rebuilt buildings, will be visible. He reminded alumni that all donations, large or small, will be honored and stewarded with integrity toward the Academy’s revival. “It is my hope that one year from now, we will be in Suehn cutting the ribbon to a new Suehn Industrial Academy,” he said.

Highlighting his broader humanitarian work, Jeety noted that his feeding program and healthcare outreach are done as part of “God’s work,” not for personal glorification. The feeding program, which began as a weekly initiative in 2017, has operated daily since March 2020, serving over 2,200 people in Monrovia and surrounding communities, including Weala in Margibi County.

Addressing social media criticism, Jeety said: “No matter what people say, or the negative criticism spread online just because I am an Indian, I will never stop doing God’s work. The criticism even motivates me to continue.”

As a Sikh, Jeety said he is guided by the principles of Kirat Karō (work honestly), Nām Japō (meditate on God’s Name), and Vand Chhakō (share earnings with the needy). “These teachings guide me toward a life rooted in truth, equality, and compassion, one that centers on God’s presence, honest work, and communal well-being,” he added.