The recent SCORE4africa Awards was an opportunity to reward those using the power of football to transform lives in Africa.

Michael Essien, Diambars, the Senegalese academy set up by the former Arsenal player Patrick Vieira, and Didier Drogba and the Cote dIvoire national team, were among the big winners at the prestigious SCORE4africa Awards held in London.

The Awards, which took place at the end of November, celebrate the power of football to transform lives, honouring those who are using football for development purposes in Africa. The lucky winners received their awards in front of a star studded audience of fellow footballers, politicians and business people, including Salomon Kalou, Diomansy Kamara and Kagisho Dikgacoi, George Elokobi, Sports Minister, Gerry Sutcliffe, MP and the South African High Commissioner, HE Dr Zola Skweyiya.

Chelsea mid-fielder Essien walked away with the People's Choice Award for best African Ambassador in the Premier League, beating off a strong challenge from Didier Drogba and Nwankwo Kanu. While Didier Drogba and colleagues Salomon Kalou, Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Eboue, from the Cote dIvoire national team were recognised for their contributions to peace and reconciliation during the civil war in their home country, which split the country between the north and the south.

Salomon Kalou, speaking on behalf of the Cote D'Ivoire National team said: 'Our country went through a difficult time during the troubles. Our football team stayed together. Football helped in the peace process. As we go to the World Cup, we hope the county can unite behind the team and we can help further with reconciliation.'

'Our country went through a difficult time during the troubles. Our football team stayed together. Football helped in the peace process.'

It was a disappointing night for Man City striker Craig Bellamy, who was nominated in two categories but was pipped to the post by Patrick Vieiras Diambars, who won for best education project using football and for the best football Foundation.

SCORE4Africa is a social enterprise wholly owned by the African Foundation for Development (AFFORD), a UK Registered Charity. The founders and organisers of SCORE4africa believe that football can help transform lives and they seek to recognise, reward and encourage those individuals, organisations, players, academies and institutions using football as a tool to drive positive change in Africa.

The organisation holds an annual awards ceremony and supports the foundation of social enterprises in Africa. It celebrates the partnerships that create sustainable development and allocates 30% of surplus funds by this event to developing LIVING FOOTBALL Community Hubs. 70% of surplus funds raised go to AFFORDs SEEDA (Supporting Entrepreneurs and Enterprise Development in Africa) project.

The SEEDA project, in partnership with Comic Relief and the University of Sierra Leone, has led to the creation of five business centres in Sierra Leone between 2007 and 2009. These have to date trained 25 business coaches who provide practical business support to 100s of local businesses and entrepreneurs.

Grassroots organisations using football for development were also recognised at the Awards. Alive and Kicking, who have created a leather ball-making business employing over 20 people, won the Enterprise Award for second year, while Kick4Life, an HIV project won the Health Award.

Cameroun football legend Roger Milla was given the Lifetime Achievement Award. In his acceptance speech he called on African players to do more off the pitch.

'It's been a very exciting competition, reflecting the high profile individuals and grassroots organisations making a difference through football,' said Onyekachi Wambu, one of the event's organisers.

Co-event organiser, Ayo Alli, added: 'The strength of the winners reflects the growing importance to development in Africa and is a challenge to the entire football world to do more.'

'The strength of the winners reflects the growing importance to development in Africa and is a challenge to the entire football world to do more.'

Finally, HE Dr Zola Skweyiya welcomed the SCORE4africa initiative and promised the gathered audience that South Africa and Africa were ready to host the 2010 World Cup next year.

Judges for the awards included Marcel Desailly, Nancy DellOlio, Lord Newby, Nada Hook from the FA, Brian Oliver, Sports Editor of The Observer, Farayi Mungazi from BBC World Service Africa, and Gibril Faal, Chair of the African Diaspora charity, AFFORD.