The competition, called #IdeasChangeLives, received more than 2,000 entries from individuals and organisations around the world.

Stanlab from Nigeria and Mhub from Malawi were declared the joint winners.

Stanlab is a virtual 3D science laboratory. It gives schools with no laboratories the possibility to teach their students practical science skills online. The hope is to reach more than half of Nigeria's 12 million students.

Job Oyebisi's StanLab project will allow students to conduct experiments in a 3D virtual laboratoryImage caption: Job Oyebisi's StanLab project will allow students to conduct experiments in a 3D virtual laboratory

Mhub is Malawian community-based technology project to help girls by using different platforms, such as text messages, to inform them about issues around sexual assault, reproductive health rights, early marriage and human trafficking. It aims to reach more than 10,000 vulnerable women and girls - often in remote rural or displaced communities - to help them understand their rights.

Each winner will receive £20,000 ($26,000) seed funding.

A proposal from Ghana, DigiCop, was commended by judges and will receive £10,000 to develop its business plan.