Executive Directors of the African Development Bank Group paid glowing tributes to outgoing President Donald Kaberuka for the enormous work he accomplished toward the development of the African continent in the last 10 years.

They said that, under his leadership, the Bank has evolved to become Africa's voice on the continent's development issues.

Board Dean Moegamat Shahid Khan expressed the feelings of Board members and set the tone for the tributes galore describing President Donald Kaberuka as a good example of what leadership is about.

As President of the AfDB and an intellectual, you have played a big part in "opening Africa for business," he said.

For his part, the Executive Director for Canada, China, Korea, Kuwait, and Turkey, Hau Sing Tse, said the President had contributed immensely in raising the AfDB's franchise value.

"All shareholders and partners value the exemplary leadership in handling the global financial crisis and the Ebola crisis," Tse said.

Other speakers cited the Bank's Ten Year Strategy, an improved policy dialogue with the Bank's member states, a love of Africa and its youth, and humane generosity as some of the emblematic characteristics demonstrated by President Kaberuka, whom they described as one of the most effective leaders that the Bank has had.

Earlier, President Kaberuka thanked the Board members for their support and urged them to do more for his successor, Akinwumi Adesina, who assumes office on September 1, 2015.

He noted that Africa is changing; the continent is becoming more confident and has more funding opportunities to choose from. It will be about different ways of leveraging resources and delivering, he said.

"It will be a time for rethinking and innovation. You should lead the change to what MDBs can do in the new context," he added.

Kaberuka noted that there have been high points and low points in his stewardship in the last 10 years and appealed to Board member not to take offence for any lapses that may have occurred.