https://ousmanesangary.netlify.app/

Ousmane Sangary, Wuhan (2026)

03/11/2025

I am glad to serve as one of the panelists for this years digital week sponsored by the World Bank, Ministry of Post and Telecommunications, MOE et al. I must also express my sincere gratitude to the Liberian Information Technology Students Union (LITSU) for this special invitation. Was amazed by the effort achieved united by a collective hope; the institution of a truly transformative digital future for Liberia. The global digital revolution is upon us, and our duty is not merely to keep pace, but to prepare for it and lead within it. We must commit ourselves to creating a future where every citizen is a digitally inclined netizen, fostering inclusive economic growth and national resilience.

My point of discussion centered around a very ambitious vision, revolve on resolving a critical infrastructure roadblock; the severe lack of stable and affordable Internet connectivity in our cities and the cripplingly poor access in our rural areas. This gap is a major hurdle for democratic participation and economic empowerment. The path forward requires a unified effort, specifically through strategic Private-Public Partnerships (PPP) between the government and ISPs like Orange and Lonestar. Tackling this challenge collaboratively, we can rapidly expand our network footprint, drive down costs, and establish the robust digital foundation that our nation desperately needs.

Furthermore, infrastructure alone is insufficient; we must invest in our people. This is where youth organizations, particularly LITSU, play an indispensable role in developing our current and future human capital. LITSU's core mission is youth digital skill development, ensuring our next generation is prepared for the modern workforce with expertise in high-demand fields like AI Machine Learning, Cybersecurity, and Digital Marketing. I strongly recommend that the government, through the Ministry of Post and Telecommunication, provide dedicated budget allocations and incentives to LITSU to organize high-impact programs like hackathons and actionable training, effectively building a national digital workforce and empowering our youth to claim their digital future.

Look forward to an even wider platform to keep propagating the digital message and how we can catch up with other developing nations.

16/08/2025

AI: Using It vs. Building It – What You Need to Know

Since my last post on Machine Learning, many of you have reached out asking how to get into AI. Here’s the truth; using AI and Building AI are two different worlds.

Building AI applications is hardcore engineering, don’t wanna sugarcoat or make it sound easy. It requires math (linear algebra, calculus, statistics), programming (Python, PyTorch/TensorFlow) with lot of algorithms, and system design (APIs, cloud, MLOps). You’ll need to understand neural networks, data pipelines, model training, and deployment. If you want to build, start with:

1. Python & ML Basics (freeCodeCamp, sentdex)
2. Deep Learning (Andrew Ng’s Coursera, Daniel Bourke’s YouTube)
3. MLOps (Made With ML, The MLOps Podcast)
4. Getting a full time academic Master’s degree in Computer Science with specialization in AI is a plus but not a compulsion

This path is for those ready to code, debug, and research, because AI evolves FAST. You’re not just an engineer; you’re a researcher.

On the other hand, using AI is more accessible. You don’t need a PhD, just smart prompting and tool mastery is enough. Tools like DeepSeek, ChatGPT, Gemini, Hedra AI Et Al. let you automate tasks, generate content, and analyze data without coding. Prompt engineering (crafting effective inputs) is a skill itself. Learn it via AI Tool Tutorials (Matt Wolfe, The AI Advantage), prompting guides (OpenAI’s docs, LearnPrompting.org)

Which path fits you? Builder or User? Both are valuable, choose based on your goals!

13/08/2025

Seven years ago, I made one of the toughest decisions of my life, I quit my highly competitive program at Stella Maris Polytechnic (currently Stella Maris Polytechnic University), even though I was already a junior student. Why? Because I chose to pursue Computer Science in China, a self-supported program in a private university to earn my BSc. My goal was simple; to return home after studies and serve as a Special IT Assistant to my uncle, supporting both his administrative duties and growing business but the results took different turns while grasping other opportunities.

Life was HARD abroad. Imagine parents paying your tuition at a private university for years, covering all living expenses, feeding yourself, and handling unexpected costs like healthcare, all on your own. No other backup, no safety net. Just pure grit and determination. Then came the turning point. In my third year, I scored a perfect 4.00 CGPA, which earned me a provincial scholarship covering my tuition for two years + a stipend for basic needs. That same year, I landed a fully paid internship in Shanghai as a Java Software Engineer, working on microservices with spring boot and spring cloud & cloud integration with CI/CD pipelines. I didn’t just earn money there, I gained real-world skills far beyond the classroom.

The company later offered me a 2-year contract. But I said NO. Even though I needed the pay and perks, I chose to pursue my Masters instead, specializing in Machine Learning (specifically NLP), working on low-resource languages, sentiment analysis, LLMs, while exploring recent gaps in ongoing studies in NLP. As a result of my postgraduate degree, I:

1. Published 3 academic papers
2. Graduated with a 4.3/5 GPA & an A-rated thesis
3. Earned HSK 5 (Chinese proficiency)
4. Named one of the Excellence Graduates
5. Got another fully paid internship as a general project assistant.

Achieved my masters funded with occasional scholarships to cover basic expenses, self-driven, no handouts. Just focus, discipline, and the refusal to accept failure. After all, I hold both a BSc & Masters in Computer Science, though minimal experience yet but fully capable and equipped with other programs too like the ALX Africa foundation and other certifications. As a Researcher & Computer Scientist, I don’t need a 9-5 to survive. My skills + laptop + internet = freedom to work on projects & gigs from anywhere.

I sharing this to remind you that school is NOT a scam, it’s what YOU make of it. Without education, I wouldn’t have the knowledge, network, or opportunities I have today. There’s a difference between going to school and GETTING SCHOOLED. The latter is what changes your life.

And please, don’t call it luck because Luck + no hard work = ZERO. In Mathematics, it’s like the sum you get after adding -1 + 1. You still end up with nothing. Success comes from relentless effort, sacrifice, and believing in yourself when no one else does. You should be doing something before you ask for help.

If I did it by reaching this far, so can you. No matter how dark the tunnel seems, keep pushing with the rightful direction and mentorship. Your breakthrough is closer than you think. This is not a fiction, it is my personal life backed by all pieces of evidence. It’s best to learn from it if you’re just starting or hoping for a change. It’s also OK not to consider it.

One more thing.

Handle your romantic lifestyle carefully while trekking on this journey to success because there’s no true romance without finance, don’t be fooled. Trek wisely before you lose yourself in the process.

07/08/2025

Young kings, listen up!

A man’s true beauty isn’t in his face but in the weight of his pocket. Prioritize building your wealth first, and then you can afford any look, shape, or style you desire. Money doesn’t just buy options; it buys confidence and control. So focus on securing the bag; everything else, including how you present yourself to the world, will follow.

Love can fade-out but your money once managed well, is your ultimate love that would never fade-out or betray you.

01/08/2025

Liberia’s Internet Costs Are Holding Back Its Young Tech Talents. This Must Change!!

I’ve been in Liberia for just a month, and I’ve already spent around $90 on data alone. Most of that went toward freelancing, online learning, and other tech side hustles that help me put food on my table outside my regular 9-to-5. And I’m not alone, thousands of young Liberians are struggling with the same problem.

In 2025, the internet isn’t just for social media or entertainment; it’s a lifeline for opportunity. Whether it’s coding, digital marketing, remote work, launching a startup, or crypto, everything in tech depends on affordable and reliable internet. Yet, in Liberia, high data costs make it nearly impossible for young talents to compete in the global digital economy. If we truly want Liberia to be part of the AI technological revolution, the government must act now to make the internet cheaper and more accessible. Imagine a young developer in Monrovia who wants to learn AI but can’t afford to stream online courses. Or a freelancer who loses gigs because their internet cuts out during a client call. These aren’t just inconveniences, they’re barriers to survival and growth.

In Liberia, students can’t access free online courses (like Coursera or YouTube tutorials) because data is too expensive. Entrepreneurs struggle to run online businesses when internet costs eat into their profits. Freelancers competing for international jobs are at a disadvantage because of expensive, slow, and unreliable connections.

Meanwhile, other African countries are racing ahead because they’ve made internet access a priority.

Let’s take Rwanda for instance:

After the genocide, Rwanda made digital transformation a national priority. Today, internet is cheap and fast, even in rural areas (thanks to their partnerships with Starlink). Kigali is now a tech hub, with startups attracting global investors. Young Rwandans work remotely for international companies, earning in dollars.

Nigeria is another area where internet is cheaper:

Nigeria has some of the cheapest data packages in Africa, and the results speak for themselves; Lagos is now Africa’s Silicon Valley, home to billion-dollar startups like Flutterwave and Paystack. This has a positive influence on the young talents and entrepreneurs making millions of young Nigerians earn through remote jobs, content creation, and freelancing. This also means more revenues for the economy, in fact, Tech contributes billions to Nigeria’s GDP.

Kenya, South Africa and a lot more other African countries are included in this category. We can’t afford to wait. To unleash Liberia’s tech potential, the government should negotiate cheaper data rates. Work with telecom companies to lower costs for students and entrepreneurs. Do away with the monopoly between Orange and Lonestar and encourage competition among ISPs for lowers prices. More ISPs mean better prices and services. The government should encourage more providers to enter the market. For us in Liberia, through government policy, tax reduction and investment in infrastructure can turn things around quickly.

Expand fiber-optic networks and bring in alternatives like Starlink. Support digital skills training by partnering with tech hubs to provide free or low-cost internet for learners.

Honestly, Liberia youths are missing out a lot because every day with expensive internet is a day of lost opportunities. In this era, money is in internet than anything else. If Rwanda, Nigeria, Kenya and others can do it, so can we. The government must treat internet access as a basic necessity, not a luxury.

Because right now, while other African nations are building the future, Liberia’s young talents are being left behind, not because they lack skill, but because they can’t afford to connect. We shouldn’t lag in all areas, it’s not too late we are still at the gestation stage of the AI revolution because we are yet to welcome Artificial General Intelligence (AGI).

This is the best time to invoke a change.

21/06/2025

As an adult, understand that no one is going to save you. It’s up to you to save yourself.

Choose your circle wisely and shoot straight for success. The road won’t be smooth, but the struggle will always be worth it. The earlier you know this the better.

12/06/2025

Post #2

Earning my master’s degree was just one part of the story, what truly defined my journey was pushing beyond limits. These are some of my major accomplishments in grad school:

1. A 4.3/5 GPA

2. Became the only graduate in my program to pass the HSK 5 Chinese proficiency exam, a testament to dedication beyond my core studies.

3. Published three academic papers

4. First price winner of the 5th Silk Road Chinese Language Competition

5. Outstanding graduate award for research, innovation and Chinese proficiency

6. Honored as my university’s International Student Star for Innovation

All these were achieved while balancing a full-time internship alongside rigorous research in a top tier company. These weren’t just accomplishments; they were proof that discipline and passion can turn ambition into reality.

To every young person doubting what’s possible: Let my journey remind you, nothing is out of reach. There were days I questioned my capacity, but today, I stand knowing that limits exist only in the mind. I didn’t just earn a degree; I shattered expectations. And now? I’ll never doubt my potential to fly higher and pierce through any barrier. The sky isn’t the limit—it’s just the beginning.

10/06/2025

Master's degree in Computer Science - CHECK! 🎓💻

This journey tested my limits, stretched my patience, and grew my resilience. Late nights debugging code, endless research papers, and moments of self-doubt only made this victory sweeter.

To anyone grinding toward a goal: Your struggle is writing your strength. The future is unwritten, but today proves that no challenge is too great when you refuse to quit.

Onward to the next adventure!

06/06/2025

Happy birthday to me 🥳!

Today, as I celebrate another year of life, my heart overflows with gratitude to God for His endless love, grace, and blessings. This past year has been a beautiful reminder of His blessings, guidance, and the incredible people He has placed in my life. I don’t take a single moment for granted, every joy, lesson, and challenge has shaped me into who I am today.

Here’s to another year of growing, loving, and walking in His purpose! Thank You, Allah, for the gift of life and the opportunity to make it meaningful. 🎉🙏

11/05/2025

Thesis Defense Successful! 🎓

Master of Science in Computer Science pending!

After years of relentless research, and caffeine-fueled nights, I’m thrilled to announce that I’ve successfully defended my Master’s thesis in Computer Science!

My thesis focuses on the development of two deep learning models: ASNet (this approach added a dual fusion attention layer to the hybrid CNN-BiLSTM for aspect-based sentiment analysis) and TERB (this model modified the original BERT embeddings for multi-class analysis); two novel deep learning models that push the boundaries of NLP!

Beyond the thesis, we published two academic articles, one in the Journal of Computer Science and Engineering, Springer Switzerland, and the other in the Journal of Computer Science and Water Resources, Springer Berlin. You can access the publications below:

1. Journal of Computer Sciences and Engineering, Springer Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-84228-3_38

2. Journal of Computer Science and Water Resources. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11269-024-03937-2?utm_source=rct_congratemailt&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=nonoa_20240813&utm_content=10.1007%2Fs11269-024-03937-2 .

I can also share digital or hard copies of both papers—just ask! This is because the journals are paywalled.

I thought I had no dreams after dropping out of college back in 2017, but guess what? God had His own plan. All these were earned due to the consistent support from my mom, a single mom selling small businesses to push his son beyond the limit of the sky. She’s my heroine!

To anyone grinding toward a big goal: Keep going. The struggle is real, but so is the triumph.

Ousmane Sangary

03/11/2025

16/08/2025

13/08/2025

07/08/2025

01/08/2025

21/06/2025

12/06/2025

10/06/2025

06/06/2025

11/05/2025

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