In a moving speech, which sums up his 10 years service to the African Development Bank (AfDB), as President, Donald Kaberuka gave glowing tributes to the founding fathers and staff of the organization in its 50 years.

He was speaking at the opening of the 50th Anniversary of the Bank during the Annual Meetings in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, on Tuesday, May 26.

Kaberuka said he has been able to learn a lot in the 10 years that he served as President of the Bank, noting that the Bank's return to the Côte d'Ivoire from Tunisia in September 2014 should not be seen as a celebration, but a solemn event, and a time to scan the future.

Citing Nelson Mandela, he said, "after climbing a hill, one finds that there are many more higher hills to climb."

He thanked the founding fathers who toiled to lay the foundation of the Bank as well as those who overcame many obstacles to bring the Bank this far.

Commenting on his election in 2005, he said he was given a strong mandate. "I was elected with 78 percent," he said.

"I am privileged to work with some of the most intelligent and committed people on the continent," he said about the AfDB staff and thanked the Bank's partners.

Kaberuka said the Bank will take the lead in infrastructure, to show that Africa is ready for business.

President Kaberuka, whose tenure ends this year, would hand over to a new Bank President to be elected on May 28.