Six Nigerians made the list of finalists in the prestigious CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2016 Competition announced today, July 18, by Ferial Haffajee, Chair of the independent judging panel.
The competition received 1637 entries this year – a record number – from 38 countries across the continent, including French and Portuguese-speaking Africa.
The finalists will enjoy an all-expense paid four day programme of workshops, media forums and networking in Johannesburg, South Africa, culminating in a Gala Award Ceremony in October 2016.
Tony Maddox, Executive Vice-President and Managing Director of CNN International said in a statement:
"This year has seen a record number of entries for the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards, from a diverse array of countries across the continent. The passion which African journalists display for telling compelling and top class stories knows no bounds. Once more, CNN proudly continues its commitment to encouraging inspired journalistic excellence with these awards."
See list of the 38 finalists from 14 countries:
Adedayo Eriye Oketola, Saturday Punch, Nigeria
Aderonke Bello, naij.com, Nigeria
Ancillar Mangena, Forbes Africa, South Africa
Asha Ahmed Mwilu & Rashid Idi, Kenya Television Network, Kenya
Ati Metwaly, Al Ahram Weekly, Egypt
Bento Venâncio, Jornal Domingo, Mozambique
Bidossèssi Appolinaire Agoïnon, Office de Radiodiffusion et Télévision du Bénin, Benin
Cheboite Kigen, Daily Nation Newspaper, Kenya
Chika Oduah, Nigeria, Freelancer at African Media Initiative, Kenya
Cleófas Viagem, STV, Mozambique
Conan Daniel Businge & Gerald Tenywa, New Vision, Uganda
Coulibaly Zoumana, Le Patriote, Ivory Coast
Diana Neille, Richard Poplak, Shaun Swingler and Sumeya Gasa, Daily Maverick Chronicle, South Africa
Dominic Omondi, The Standard, Kenya
Eromo Egbejule, Freelancer at Ventures Africa, Nigeria
Faten Hayed, El Watan, Algeria
Fidelto Emidio Bata, STV, Mozambique
Folashade Adebayo, The Punch, Nigeria
Garreth van Niekerk, City Press, South Africa
Isaac Otidi Amuke, Commonwealth Writers, Kenya
James Oatway, The Sunday Times, South Africa
Jay Caboz, Forbes Africa, South Africa
Jean-Luc Emile, Teleplus, Mauritius
John Grobler, Namibia, and Fiona Macleod, Oxpeckers Investigative Environmental Journalism, South Africa
Lawrence Seretse, The Botswana Gazette, Botswana
Mia Malan, Mail & Guardian, South Africa
Teresa Fuquiadi, Jornal Nova Gazeta, Angola
Veronica Narkwor Kwabla, Tv3 Network, Ghana
Veronica Onuchi, TVC News Africa, Nigeria
Yemisi Akinbobola, Ogechi Ekeanyanwu & Paul Bradshaw, IQ4News for Premium Times, Nigeria