Dr. LeRoy Z. Boikai, Chair, Suehn Legacy Circle;
Madam Frances Hayes, Event Coordinator;
Distinguished guests, honorees, and members of the Suehn Legacy Circle;
Ladies and gentlemen,
Good evening!
When I received your invitation, I accepted it without any hesitation, not because of the title of Keynote Speaker, but because of what this gathering represents: a refusal to let the memory of the Suehn Industrial Academy die.
The Academy, founded in 1912, about 114 years ago, by Solomon Hill and June Moore of the hugely successful Hill and Moore Trading Company, carries a legacy that needs to be revived for the future generation of Liberia.
When Hill and Moore financed the establishment of the Suehn Industrial Academy, it was about shaping and building the futures of thousands of Liberians for centuries to come.
And so, for nearly a century before the civil conflict, the Academy stood as a place where education was grounded in character, and discipline walked hand in hand with compassion.
Today, the ruins carry a legacy as an institution that once nurtured some of Liberia’s most prominent citizens, including Cllr. Charles Walker Brumskine, former Senate Protemp and former Chief Justice Cllr. Frances Johnson-Morris, as well as some of you in this hall tonight, or someone you know.
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. As such, the task of reconstruction is not a sentimental exercise but a responsibility for every one of us, and an obligation to the future we cannot afford to miss. That is why, when you asked me to serve as Keynote Speaker, I said yes, because the mission of tonight’s program aligns with everything I believe: that we lift by lifting others, that we prosper by ensuring others can prosper, and that we honor our own blessings by becoming blessings to others.
While I am an Indian by passport, I am a Liberian by heart, and Liberia means so much to me. Therefore, joining hands with you tonight to revive the Suehn Industrial Academy is an obligation that I take seriously, as it is about investing in Liberia’s future and its potential.
Throughout my life, I have held on to this philosophical belief that 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.
In my humanitarian endeavors, whether the hot-cooked meal feeding program or healthcare outreach assistance, I do so because it is God’s work, not for any glorification, but to manifest the blessings of God in my life onto others.
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.
Equally important is the unwavering support, especially from my life partner, and the staff at the Jeety Conglomerate. Their dedication over the years has ensured the continuity and growth of our feeding program, which began in 2017 as a once-a-week initiative and has since March 2020 evolved into a daily program operating seven days a week. Today, the feeding program benefits over 2,200 people in Monrovia, its surrounding communities, and Weala, Margibi County.
So, no matter what people say, or the negative criticism spread on social media, I will never stop doing God’s work. Your criticism motivates me even more, and please continue.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Tonight, we stand at a crossroads. The choice we make will either revive or doom the nearly century-long legacy of the Suehn Industrial Academy. Our support for this cause will determine whether the Suehn Industrial Academy is remembered as an institution that once was, or reborn to nurture, academically, a new generation of Liberians.
What I have learned about life is that the greatest gift is the opportunity to be part of something meaningful. Tonight is that opportunity for us to write the next chapter in the history of the Suehn Industrial Academy.
On this note, I am committing, on behalf of myself, my life partner and Jeety Conglomerate, Three Million Liberian Dollars’ Worth of Building Materials to kick-start the long-awaited reconstruction of the Suehn Industrial Academy. 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.
But I cannot do this alone. No single person can. This is why I need everyone gathered here to make a commitment before leaving this hall tonight. Yours could be a significant financial contribution, perhaps matching a portion of my commitment, perhaps a modest but consistent support, or organizing fundraising events within your networks.
The task of reconstructing the Suehn Industrial Academy is every one of us here’s responsibility, and let us make this happen. It is my hope that, one year from now, we will be in Suehn cutting the ribbon to a new Suehn Industrial Academy. This transformation is possible with your support. It is not fantasy; this is something we can achieve together.
Let us leave from here tonight refusing to accept that the history of the Suehn Industrial Academy will die in ruins rather than be restored. 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. Together, we rebuild, and let this gathering be the moment we look back and say, we did it. The Suehn Industrial Academy is now reconstructed.
Those who established the Suehn Industrial Academy in 1912 could not have imagined us gathering here tonight, more than a century later, still carrying their vision forward. They simply did what they could, with what they had, where they were, and now it is our turn to continue that legacy.
To Dr. Boikai, Madam Hayes, thank you for the invitation. Thank you for trusting me with this platform, and to everyone here tonight, your presence matters, your contribution matters, and your voice matters.
And so, I leave you with this thought: Do Not Give to Get; Give to Inspire Others. In doing so, the future of the Suehn Industrial Academy and the futures of countless young Liberians will be shaped by the commitment we make tonight
Thank you for coming. Thank you for listening. Thank you for your contributions and may God bless Liberia.
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