Federer, one of sport’s highest achievers, looked to set the record straight as he delivered a graduation speech at Dartmouth College in the United States.

The Swiss swapped the shorts he had worn “almost every day for the last 35 years” for a robe that was “hard to move in” as he spoke when receiving a Doctor of Humane Letters degree from the New Hampshire institution.

The 20-time Grand Slam winner, who hung up his professional racquet in 2022, talked about how “awful” he finds the word ‘retired’.

He said he had instead “graduated tennis” and, like those he was speaking to, had “finished one big thing” and was “moving on to the next”.

The 42-year-old then went on to deliver three “tennis lessons” he had “relied on through this transition”, which he identified as:

• “Effortless” is a myth
• It’s only a point
• Life is bigger than the court

Federer won Wimbledon eight times and was renowned for the stylish and elegant nature of his game.

“People would say my play was effortless. Most of the time, they meant it as a compliment,” he said in Sunday’s ceremony. “But it used to frustrate me when they would say, ‘He barely broke a sweat’, or, ‘Is he even trying?’.

“The truth is, I had to work very hard to make it look easy.

“I didn’t get where I got on pure talent alone. I got there by trying to outwork my opponents.

“Most of the time, it’s not about having a gift. It’s about having grit.”

‘You want to become a master at overcoming hard moments’

On his second lesson about it being “only a point”, Federer explained it was possible to “work harder than you thought possible and still lose”, like he had, as “tennis is brutal”.

He referenced his famous five-set defeat by Rafael Nadal in the 2008 Wimbledon final and commented that “in tennis, perfection is impossible”, with him having won 80% of 1,526 singles matches.

“When you lose every second point, on average, you learn not to dwell on every shot,” said Federer.

“When you’re playing a point, it is the most important thing in the world.

“But when it’s behind you, it’s behind you. This mindset is really crucial, because it frees you to fully commit to the next point and the next one after that with intensity, clarity and focus.

“You want to become a master at overcoming hard moments. That to me is the sign of a champion.”

When speaking about his third lesson that “life is bigger than the court”, Federer said from the start of his career he saw how “tennis could show me the world but tennis could never be the world”.

He added: “I’m here to tell you from the other side of graduation that leaving a familiar world behind and finding new ones is incredibly, deeply, wonderfully exciting.”

My fellow Nigerians,

I am profoundly humbled that you have elected me to serve as the 16th president of our beloved republic. This is a shining moment in the life of any man and affirmation of our democratic existence. From my heart, I say thank you.

Whether you are Batified, Atikulated, Obidient, Kwankwasiyya, or have any other political affiliation, you voted for a better, more hopeful nation and I thank you for your participation and dedication to our democracy.

You decided to place your trust in the democratic vision of a Nigeria founded on shared prosperity and one nurtured by the ideals of unity, justice, peace and tolerance. Renewed hope has dawned in Nigeria.

We commend INEC for running a free and fair election. The lapses that did occur were relatively few in number and were immaterial to the final outcome. With each cycle of elections, we steadily perfect this process so vital to our democratic life.

Today, Nigeria stands tall as the giant of Africa. It shines even brighter as the continent’s biggest democracy.

I thank all who supported my campaign. From President Buhari who adeptly led my campaign as its chairman, to my Vice Presidential Candidate, Senator Kashim Shettima.

To the progressive governors of our party and this nation, to the party leadership, to our loyal party members. I owe you a debt of gratitude. To the entire campaign organization, I thank you sincerely.

I thank my loving wife and dear family whose support was ceaseless and inspiring. Without you, this victory would not be possible.

I am grateful to Almighty God. By His mercy, I was born a son of Nigeria and through His sublime purpose I find myself the victor of this election. May He grant me the wisdom and courage to lead the nation to the greatness He alone has destined for it.

Finally, I thank the Nigerian people for their abiding belief in our democracy. I shall be a fair leader to all Nigerians. I will be in tune with your aspirations, charge up your energies and harness your talents to deliver a nation that we can be proud of.

To my fellow candidates, former VP Atiku, former governor Kwankwaso, former governor Obi and all others, I extend the hand of friendship. This was a competitive, high-spirited campaign.

You have my utmost respect.

Political competition must now give way to political conciliation and inclusive governance.

During the election, you may have been my opponent but you were never my enemy. In my heart, you are my brothers.

Still, I know some candidates will be hard put to accept the election results. It is your right to seek legal recourse. What is neither right nor defensible is for anybody to resort to violence. Any challenge to the electoral outcome should be made in a court of law, and not in the streets.

I also ask my supporters to let peace reign and tensions fade. We ran a principled, peaceful and progressive campaign. The aftermath of our campaign must be as benign.

Yes, there are divisions amongst us that should not exist. Many people are uncertain, angry and hurt; I reach out to every one of you. Let the better aspects of our humanity step forward at this fateful moment. Let us begin to heal and bring calm to our nation.

Now, to you, the young people of this country, I hear you loud and clear. I understand your pains, your yearnings for good governance, a functional economy and a safe nation that protects you and your future.

I am aware that for many of you Nigeria has become a place of abiding challenges limiting your ability to see a bright future for yourselves.

Remodeling our precious national home requires the harmonious efforts of all of us, especially the youth. Working together, we shall move this nation as never before.

My running mate, Vice President-elect Shettima, and I understand the challenges ahead. More importantly, we also understand and deeply value the talent and innate goodness of you, the Nigerian people. We pledge to listen and to do the difficult things, the big deeds, that put us on the path of irreversible progress. Hold us firmly to account, but please give us a chance first.

Together, we shall build a brighter and more productive society for today, tomorrow and for years to come.

Today, you have given me the greatest honor you can bestow on one man.

In return, I will give you my utmost as your next president and commander-in-chief. Peace, unity and prosperity shall be the cornerstones of the society we intend to build. When you gaze upon what we shall accomplish in the coming years, you shall speak with pride at being a Nigerian.

I thank you all.

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Speaking on this year’s theme ‘Accelerating Agriculture Development through Value Addition’ in his acceptance speech, Mr Siriboe mentioned that he craves the indulgence of the youth in agriculture.

Contrary to the misperception that agriculture, especially farming, is for the uneducated, unskilled and aged, the current Best Farmer, who doubles as a professional mechanical engineer, made a case for why the youth can actively participate in the sector.

According to him, the youth constitute a chunk of the labour force which when tapped efficiently can increase yield and improve profit margin.

It is for this reason he believes government must endeavor to make agriculture “sexy” for the youth in terms of increased reward, innovation, incentives and motivation.

Mr Siriboe commended the government for instituting a lot of measures to promote agriculture through programmes and initiatives that have seen exponential increase in youth participation.

He promised to top up government’s efforts by engaging the youth through hand on training to give them knowledge in best practices while addressing key concern in agriculture, especially climate change, pest disease control and post harvest loses.

Mr Siriboe also pledged to liaise with the ministries, media and other stakeholders to make the agenda of making agriculture attractive a successful one.

He made the comments on the grounds of the Jubilee Park in the Eastern Regional capital, Koforidua, where the grand durbar was held.

The young girl, identified as Michaela, also has also wowed fans with the excellent accent with which she spoke.

A video Mrs Hamilton shared on her Instagram page captured her daughter deliver a speech with confidence to commemorate her father’s birthday.

Her mum was equally surprised as the party guests stood speechless after her performance.

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The proud father, Mr Hamilton, hugged his daughter who offered prayers for him in the speech.

Watch the video below:

He delivered what has been widely described as delivering the ‘best Man-of-the-Match speech of all-time’ after scoring both goals for his team in a 2-2 draw against Ajax Cape Town.

Several top newspapers in the world, including the powerful UK newspapers the Sun, the Mirror and the Telegraph, have picked up on the faux pax.

Other newspapers in the USA and far flung places like Australia have all picked up in Mohammed’s blunder exposing him to global ridicule.

Watch video below:

The parade was graced by the three former Presidents of the country – Jerry John Rawlings, John Agyekum Kufuor and John Mahama as well as heads of states and dignitaries from neighbouring countries.

It was also a sight to behold as students and contingents from the security services, performed a march past to salute the president, who doubles as the Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces.

Delivering a speech to climax the event, President Nana Akufo-Addo stoked embers of the debate over whether Ghana should have founding fathers or just a founding father.

Commending the country’s forefathers for fighting a good battle to liberate the nation from the British colonial rule, the president noted that the independence struggle had been started by members of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) 10 years before it was granted.

“We are met here, today, to celebrate the 60th anniversary of our nation’s independence, to celebrate our freedom from the clutches of British imperialism, to celebrate the final achievement of the struggle of successive generations of Ghanaian patriots to establish a free, sovereign Ghana. Today is a celebration of our independence. Being independent means you have the freedom and ability to make informed decisions in life without having to ask other people for permission, help or money and you take full responsibility for seeing things through.

“Our founders chose this day, March 6, as the date of our independence, in order to repudiate the Bond of 6th March 1844, which led to our land becoming a British colony…The founders of the UGCC, then, met to demand independence from the British and 70 years after that event, one still marvels at the clarity of thought and the passion that they displayed. Some of the names of that momentous day have survived in our written history and folk memory…The speech, the Ghanaian colossus, Danquah, made on that day, deserves to be quoted liberally on a day like this,” he said.

“…Danquah captured the mood of the time and set our country on the path to independence,” the President added.

Touting the major roles played by Joseph Boakye Danquah, Emmanuel Obetsebi-Lamptey, William Ofori-Atta, Ebenezer Ako-Adjei, and his father Edward Akufo-Addo, the President pointed out that it was when the UGCC leaders decided they needed a full-time person to man the party’s affairs that they brought in the “dynamic” nationalist Kwame Nkrumah.

“Soon thereafter, on 28the February 1948, the notorious and senseless killings of three ex-servicemen, Sergeant Adjetey, Corporal Attipoe and Private Odartey Lamptey…which, undoubtedly, quickened the pace of the independence movement,” he said.

But some have accused the president of attempting to distort history in his speech.

Central Regional Chairman of the NDC, Bernard Allotey Jacobs believes Nkrumah’s contributions were deliberately altered by the president, who sought to rather credit J.B Danquah for the change of the country’s name from Gold Coast to Ghana.

“Step by step, paragraph by paragraph, the deceptive nature of his speech; it was like it was centred on J.B Danquah. It was centred on J.B Danquah. A statement the President gave (the name Ghana); who gave the name Ghana has been in dispute…It is giving recognition to J.B Danquah as the man who mooted the idea that should we have our independence, it means we should have the name Ghana. So, that is being credited to him and not to President Kwame Nkrumah” but to him, the question is “who gave Ghana independence? The credit goes to Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. You can never run away from that fact”, he replied President Akufo-Addo and further begged him to accept that “the founder of Ghana is Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. Period! Nothing else…” he said on Peace FM.

Also addressing the issue on the station’s flagship programme “Kokrokoo”, Editor-in-Chief of the New Crusading Guide, Abdul Malik Kweku Baako opined that the President perhaps exaggerated historical facts.

Kweku Baako told host, Kwami Sefa Kayi that there’s no other person who founded the country than Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.

According to him, there are historical records that point to the heroic efforts by Dr. Nkrumah in achieving independence for the country.

Alluding to some historical records including Parliamentary Hansards to buttress his comments which wowed listeners of the show, the Senior Journalist noted that Dr. Nkrumah became the person to declare Ghana’s independence for specific reasons.

“….Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah…the one that declared independence on March 6, 1957. Let’s be dispassionate. Let’s ask those questions. You’ll know that that is the reason why he has become and I’m being charitable first among equals. As an Nkrumahist, I’m biased. That’s the key man. I will go for him as the key founder of this country. (Kwame) he’s number one. There’s no dispute about it.”

“There’s nothing the President said that wasn’t factual but sometimes, I remember I saw somewhere that says if you exaggerate the truth; you undermine the essence of the truth,” he added.

source:Peace fm