If you are thinking of three Nigerian journalists who write documentaries with emotive, positive energy, three names come to mind. Michael Awoyinfa, a protege of the ebullient Dele Giwa and former managing director of The Sun newspaper.

Also, we have Dimgba Igwe of blessed memory and bosom friend of Awoyinfa. Finally, my humble self is in their superlative league.

The three of us drafted documentaries into our writings and journalism schedule, because we realise news and features articles alone done by younger ones cannot capture eloquently the whole gamut of a celebrated newsmakers world, for present and future generations.

Given this fact, you can understand why I endeavour to undertake an aggregate documentation of the deserving Olayiwola Afolabi (SAN) for 2024.

Incredible!! The year saw him continue to showcase a legacy of undying philanthropy.

Once again, countless people benefitted from the charitable heart of the Ekiti-born human rights activist resident in Benin City, the capital of Edo State, Nigeria. Just name it. Pupils , students, graduates, office staff, police officers, court registrars, correctional centre workers, housewives, nurses, tailors, bricklayers, church members, junior lawyers and the UNIBEN Faculty of Law among others.

All of them were recipients of one free gift or the other from Olayiwola Afolabi in the form of cash, half bags of rice, noodles, radios, suit material, wigs/gowns and bibles. Too true, Olayiwola Afolabi does not only take care of the recipients physical needs with food and cash but, also the spiritual with bible gifts. This is not surprising. He is a faithful member of Deeper Life Bible Church founded by Dr Kumuyi.

The platform Olayiwola Afolabi uses for reaching out to his beneficiaries is the People-Talk-To-People programme of Independent Radio, Benin in Edo State. In display of passion for open, transparent philanthropy he often drives several kilometers to the studio to present his easy contests as well as guidelines for harvesting eligible winners by a panel of the studio staff.

In March 2024, he was in the radio studio and forcibly conscripted into an interview by the duo of Messrs Thomas Sado and Prince Okhiokpanmwonyi. In response to their question, Olayiwola Afolabi said: "I am a lover of your radio programme. Hence, I use it to promote my charity. Also, I am a good friend of the good people of Edo State and Nigeria.

"I love to give out to people because when my father died, it was nen we don't know who assisted my brother and I to university. The same man helped my brother to travel to Austria where he lives with his good wife Abimbola. So, to show appreciation to those who helped us, I never fail to assist others."

Indeed, if you check the trajectory of the philanthropy of Olayiwola Afolabi, you won't fail to observe that he also gives out to people to share his God wealth with the needy as well as honour all senior lawyers with positive impact on his own legal career capped with the optimal Senior Advocate Of Nigeria (SAN) award, recently.

It is instructive to realise that Olayiwola Afolabi does not only hand out gifts to people who win his radio contests on sundays during the People-Talk-To-People Programme of Independent Radio, Benin. Off-contest callers seeking his help get it.

For instance, on the 14th of January 2024 while in the studio Mrs Mercy Adeyemo and an anonymous woman requested for financial aid and a radio respectively. He granted their demands.

Also, in the same month of January 2024 a man phoned into the Sunday programme of Independent Radio, Benin. He revealed that but for Olayiwola Afolabi his 400- Level daughter wouldn't have been able to undertake her final University project. Olayiwola Afolabi funded it joyfully.

In October 2024, Mrs Olayomi Bukola phoned into the sunday programme of Independent Radio, Benin. She announced with pathos: "I don't know Olayiwola Afolabi. I have never met him before. I only called him requesting for financial help to buy a PoS machine. He bought for me.

"A yoruba proverb says a good man will work, have abundance and be able to take his wealth home. So shall it be for Afolabi. Amen."

There is a unique dimension to the philanthropy of Olayiwola Afolabi.

He explains that it is his own way of expressing gratitude to God for His mercies to him in addition to honouring great senior colleagues that helped him to grow in life.

For instance in November 2024, Olayiwola Afolabi donated wigs and gowns to the law faculty of the University of Benin in honòur of Chief Henry Ugbodu, Osarodion Ogie as well as several others who have immensely contributed to shaping his legal career positively.

On this list, too, is Mrs Abimbola Afolabi - his brother's wife whom he celebrates for singlehandedly sponsoring his trip to their home in Austria in September 2024.

No corper who serve in the chambers of Olayiwola Afolabi departs without a gift of a wig and gowns in addition to legal books.

Earlier in the year, he donated 20 wigs and gowns to the Ekiti state branch of Nigeria Bar Association for distribution to aspiring, junior lawyers.

As at last count, Olayiwola Afolabi has gifted over 1000 wigs and gowns to this category of lawyers.

For Olayiwola Afolabi, charity should also begin from home. This is why in March 2024 he honoured all his meritorious staff to a lavish party.

In October 2024, during one of his visit to the studio of Independent Radio, Benin, Olayiwola Afolabi took a group photograph with Rosemary Idiaye, Mercy Oseghale and Friday Ufoma, the three winners of his prize.

Mercy Oseghale and Rosemary Idiaye in unison prayed for him: "If God gives us a community with 10 Afolabis, such a community will be changed positively.

"Heaven will feed him for his philanthropy. Amen."