Nollywood filmmaker, Dickson Iroegbu berths with Greenwood Dialogue Foundation (GDF)

Iroegbu

Award winning Nollywood filmmaker, Dickson Iroegbu recently unveiled his new initiative, Greenwood Dialogue Foundation (GDF), at a very colourful and well attended ceremony.
The initiative, according to Iroegbu, is his own idea of soliciting for the inclusion of Nigerian youths in the forthcoming national dialogue proposed by President Goodluck Jonathan.
Below is the moving speech Iroegbu delivered at the event that had several of his Nollywood colleagues in attendance.



“Ladies and Gentlemen, patriots of the Nigerian project and distinguished members of the Press, welcome to this morning of revelation.
In my book Save Our Plateau, written and published in 2009-2010, I said in page “30” Message to Aso Rock, that; “…in the search for true Federalism, let us go back to our roots and locate the blueprint.” That Blueprint is what some called Sovereign National Conference; some others called it National Dialogue.
Today, it is no longer news that the much clamoured platform has been provided by President Goodluck Jonathan. When the President and Commander-in Chief of the Armed Forces mooted the idea early this year, many of us were skeptical about the genuine intention and interest of the President. However, the President in inaugurating a committee towards the realization of the Confab, made it clear that there is no inhibition of qualification and participation. Incidentally, the assurance of the President has not doused the doubt in us about the cogency of its agenda.
As young people, we are worried that our father and President omitted our place in the just dissolved Presidential Advisory Committee on the proposed National Confab. They have since submitted their findings and report to the C-in-C. We are worried and we are requesting for our stake in the development of our fatherland as youths. Greenwood Dialogue Foundation (GDF) is a dynamic youth platform for our patriotic development. The Nigerian youth wants to be included in the proposed National Confab.
On the basis of our reasoning that Agenda-Setting is more of a collective contribution than elective attribution, we have in (GDF) articulated a Native Platform to stimulate the creative expression of public impressions. Under the Green Leaf logo, we chose to express the fertility of our numerical strength, relying on the hindsight of Nigerian Youths as major stakeholders for future Nigeria.
Ultimately, it is our objective to sensitize the public on the need to fully participate in the Conference and in the end, be part of the technical creators of a great Nigeria where the ethnic nationalities live harmoniously as One People of One Nation.
In GDF, we have two important goals for our nation as a Non Governmental Organization; (1) to develop and publicize transformational value based arguments, and present the vision to the future that our greatness, is in our togetherness. Behind the scenes we are working on the second goal, and we are reaching out and organizing great events to achieve the first. We therefore spread our hands in reception of us as may team up to make the Nigerian project a dream come true. We want a guaranteed security for every Nigerian child, the right to be educated and empowered through development, in the spirit and character of our nationhood. We want a bond that would not break among fellow Nigerians.
We pledge to Nigeria our country.
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!”