Mr. Jeety to provide 100 jobs to zogoes

By Lincoln G. Peters 

Several disadvantaged youths and government officials at the Pelham building on Central Street in Monrovia, could not hold back their excitement upon hearing of hundreds of jobs intended for rehabilitated youths.

Indian businessman and philanthropist Mr. Upjit Singh Sachdeva, affectionately called Mr. Jeety, announced Thursday, 23 June 2022 that he will provide one hundred jobs for the disadvantaged youths or Zogoes at his Rubber Processing factory in Margibi County.

The factory is expected to begin operation officially in 2026. Disadvantaged youths who will go through rehabilitation and integration programs by the government of Liberia and its partners will then work at the facility.

The Government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Youth and Sports, along with Development Partners, on Thursday held the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism’s (MICAT’s) regular press briefing at the Pelham Building on Center Street.

The unusual venue of the press conference just near the Center Street Cemetery is where several disadvantaged youths also known here as Zogoes, reside in deplorable condition.

The outdoor engagement sought to help create awareness for the upcoming 30 June 2022 national fund drive intended to raise US$13.8 million for the rehabilitation and empowerment of the growing number of at-risk youth in the country.

The press briefing was graced by Mr. D. Zeogar Wilson, Youth and Sports Minister and Chairman of the Steering Committee; Health Minister Dr. Wilhelmina Jallah; and Deputy Information Minister Jarlawah A Tonpo.

Mr. Upjit Singh Sachdeva, representing international partners and donors, made a brilliant presentation at the press conference which was hailed by several disadvantaged youths and government officials.

The presentation contained ways to help government rehabilitate the disadvantaged youths.

Disadvantaged youths could be heard chanting “Long live Mr. Jeety; Y’all leave us ooo da Jeety we want; Children father, children father; Talk and do Jeety, Talk and do Jeety.”

In his remark, Mr. Sachdeva assured the gathering that all those who will be rehabilitated and brought back to the society with the necessary skills to contribute to nation building will be recruited by his company.

He said they will work to enable them to provide for themselves and their family, as they will all have to join hands to save the youthful population.

“My friends, let me give you this big announcement in this public manner because most of you are aware that I am constructing my Tyre Factory,” Mr. Jeety said. 

“I announce to you in this public manner today that I will provide one hundred jobs for the first at-risk youth that will be rehabilitated through this program at my factory,” Jeety declared. 

He said there will be other great things and more will come, but the first hundred jobs will be given as the disadvantaged youths graduate.

The Indian businessman has already begun the construction of a US$25 million Rubber Processing Factory in Cita, Margibi County to produce tyres for the first time in Liberia.

Mr. Jeety told journalists during a tour at the ongoing construction site that production of tyres will start in 2026, just 100 years after Firestone, the world-leading rubber producer began operation in Liberia and shipment of latex outside the country.

Mr. Jeety’s tyre factory, including warehouses, washing and treatment plants would be situated on 13 hectares of property. Expected to be the largest in the country, the factory building (132,000 sq ft) will be completely prefabricated.

The construction which is estimated to take one year to complete started just six months after the Government of Liberia and Jeety Rubber LLC signed the concession agreement in December last year.

According to Jeety, the disadvantaged folks are the youth of Liberia and the great future of the country. He said Liberia belongs to them, therefore, they should not allow anyone to use them to destroy the future of their own country.

” Liberia is your country and do not allow anybody to use you to destroy your country,” said Mr. Jeety.

“Do all you think you can to join hands to build this country and do not allow yourselves to be used by anyone,” he added. 

For their part, the disadvantaged youths lauded Mr. Jeety for the continued support toward them.

They thanked him for his feeding program, adding that they are willing to be rehabilitated to contribute to nation-building.

” We are excited that you have come with this initiative. Mr. Jetty, we believe in you because you are talk and do,” one disadvantaged youth said. 

“We thank you for your support but hope that this government will not lie to us as they have been doing,” he claimed.