Meet Henri Ousmane Gueye: The visionary behind Africa’s digital health revolution

By Elias Hakizimana

As Henri Ousmane Gueye stood on the grand stage of the Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH) Prize Competition in Kigali, Rwanda on March 15, 2025, the moment was surreal.

The cheers from the audience, the flashing lights, and the weight of the $300,000 grand prize felt like a culmination of years of relentless hard work, innovation, and an unshakable belief in transforming Africa’s healthcare landscape.

Gueye, the co-founder and CEO of EYONE, a groundbreaking health-tech company, had just been crowned the winner of the prestigious competition, emerging from a pool of nearly 20,000 applicants. The victory was more than just a personal milestone—it was a testament to the power of homegrown solutions in addressing Africa’s most pressing challenges.

A mission to revolutionize healthcare

For years, Gueye has been on a mission to streamline healthcare access across Africa. His journey began with a fundamental question: Why should a patient have to repeatedly provide the same medical information at different hospitals?

“In many African countries, healthcare remains heavily dependent on paper records,” Gueye explained. “This leads to inefficiencies, delays, and repeated medical tests that cost both time and money. Our goal is to create a connected health system where patient data is accessible in real time, regardless of the hospital or region.”

Through EYONE, Gueye and his team have built a digital health platform that eliminates paper-based medical records and ensures seamless data-sharing between healthcare providers. Already making waves in Senegal, the company has expanded to Gabon and Côte d’Ivoire, with ambitious plans to scale across the continent.

Bringing innovation to East Africa

Standing on the sidelines of the ABH Grand Finale in Kigali, Rwanda, Gueye spoke passionately about his expansion plans, particularly in the East African region.

“I’ll be staying in Rwanda for two more days to explore opportunities with local partners,” he revealed. “The goal is to bring EYONE’s solution to East Africa and ensure that patients here also benefit from a seamless healthcare experience.”

His vision extends far beyond digitizing medical records—Gueye is pioneering the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into healthcare.

“If AI is trained on Western data, it won’t necessarily align with Africa’s healthcare realities,” he explained. “We are developing AI-driven solutions tailored to the continent’s needs—whether it’s improving prescription accuracy or using medical imaging to predict diseases.”

A well-deserved recognition

The road to the ABH grand prize was anything but easy. The competition, themed “AI – African Innovation, Insight, and Impact,” saw Gueye pitch his business to a live audience and a panel of distinguished judges, including Dr. Diane Karusisi, CEO of Bank of Kigali, and Ibukun Awosika, founder of the Chair Centre.

His compelling presentation and the tangible impact of EYONE’s work earned him the top spot, ahead of fierce competitors such as Dr. Salma Bougarrani of GREEN WATECH in Morocco and Alexander Odhiambo of Solutech Limited in Kenya.

As he accepted his award, emotions ran high. “This achievement is not just for me—it’s for my team, my country, and for every African entrepreneur working to solve real problems,” Gueye said with emotion.

“It motivates us to keep pushing forward, to expand our reach, and to make sure no patient is left behind.”

Shaping the future of African entrepreneurship

The ABH Competition, now a flagship initiative by the Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Philanthropy, has grown into a platform that amplifies the voices of Africa’s most promising business leaders. With Rwanda set to host the event for the next four years, the country is solidifying its role as a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship.

As the 2025 call for applications opened, Gueye had a message for aspiring entrepreneurs: “Dream big, work hard, and create solutions that matter. Africa needs more problem solvers, and the world is ready to listen.”

With his vision, dedication, and groundbreaking innovation, Henri Ousmane Gueye is not just changing the future of healthcare—he is redefining what’s possible for Africa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

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