The outgoing Dean of the Board of the African Development Bank Group, Hassan Khedr, received commendations from management and colleagues at the Boards' regular session on Wednesday in Tunis.
AfDB President, Donald Kaberuka thanked the outgoing Dean for his immense contributions to the Bank's work as chair of the Committee on Administrative Matters concerning the Board of Directors (AMBD) and for the effective representation of his country, Egypt, and Djibouti.
Presenting him with a certificate and a gift, Mr. Kaberuka recalled the Dean's ability to engage colleagues and resolve issues amicably.
In his farewell statement, Mr. Khedr said he was "very fortunate to have joined the Bank after the commencement of the first term of Dr. Kaberuka who came with the vision of the inevitability of a robust Bank for the growth of Africa."
According to outgoing Dean, an objective analysis of the scope of Bank work, its areas of nettings and strategic focus, its corporate governance, evolution of its capacity and financial integrity, effectiveness in helping its clients would suggest that there is a structural change that has made the AfDB he joined in 2006 a significantly different institution from that he is leaving in 2012.
"Thanks to the good collaboration between the President and the Board of Directors, high calibre senior management, dedication of staff and belief of stakeholders in the role of this bank, this profound change has been made possible," he emphasized.
He cited a long list of positive changes ranging from the tripling of the Bank's capital to the expansion of its regional and non-regional membership as some of the remarkable changes that did not happen by accident.
Mr. Khedr gave six messages he would like the Bank to keep in mind.
"I will never forget ADB and I will remain indebted to this important institution for the wide experience I gained, the many friendships I had and the honor I had working as Dean of its Board of Directors for about 4 years," he added.
His successor, Mohamed Mahroug, who represents Morocco, Togo and Tunisia, praised the outgoing Dean's negotiation skills, noting that he was very good at uniting divergent views in such a way that enabled his peers to work in harmony.
"He should be proud of his accomplishments in the Bank," Mr. Mahroug added.
President Kaberuka also presented the Bank's new Auditor-General, Tarek Rouchdy, an Egyptian, to the Boards.
Contacts
Felix Njoku
