Liberian Specialist Returns Home to Empower Youth with Tech

Kusee Armstrong sees a solution where others see only problems. The Liberia native recently returned home after years of study abroad, armed with five advanced degrees and a mission to turn his country's youth unemployment crisis into an opportunity.

Armstrong specializes in geospatial technology, the sophisticated mapping and data tools that help cities plan smarter. Now he's launching an enterprise that will train young Liberians in these same skills, creating jobs while addressing urgent national needs.

Liberia has one of West Africa's youngest populations, but that demographic advantage has turned into a vulnerability. High unemployment pushes youth into insecure work or worse, makes them easy targets for political manipulation during elections. Armstrong watched this pattern repeat and decided structured skill-building, not empty promises, was the answer.

The country faces mounting urban challenges that geospatial tech could solve. Rapid growth in Monrovia and other cities has created unplanned settlements, land disputes, and dangerous flooding. Traditional planning methods haven't kept pace, leaving communities vulnerable to climate disasters.

Armstrong's enterprise will teach practical skills like data collection, mapping, and spatial analysis. These aren't abstract lessons but marketable abilities that prepare youth for jobs in technology and development sectors. The training creates a workforce while generating the data Liberia desperately needs for better city planning.

The path forward isn't easy. Banks rarely fund startup ventures, especially technology-focused ones led by young entrepreneurs. Unreliable electricity and weak internet connections add operational costs. Many government agencies still don't understand how spatial data could transform their work.

The Ripple Effect

Yet Armstrong sees momentum building. Climate risks and urban expansion are forcing institutions to embrace evidence-based planning. Development organizations increasingly demand data-driven approaches for their projects, creating new demand for geospatial services.

His multidisciplinary background bridges technical innovation with practical policy design. That combination positions him to speak both the language of government agencies and the realities facing young job seekers. Training youth in these skills doesn't just create individual opportunities but builds national capacity for smarter development.

The initiative represents a new model for addressing unemployment. Instead of temporary relief programs, it offers lasting skills that respond to genuine market demand. Young people become solution-makers for the very challenges affecting their communities.

Armstrong's return reflects a growing recognition among trained professionals that sustainable change requires local commitment. Global education means little without application to homegrown problems. He's betting that Liberia's youthful population, often described as a liability, can drive the country's transformation when given the right tools and training.

One expert's vision is creating pathways where none existed before.