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