London — President Goodluck Jonathan and three other African leaders have advised youths on the continent to acquire the best education and employability skills, engage in business and entrepreneurship, and live in peace and harmony with one another.

President Jonathan and the presidents of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama; Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf; and Benin Republic, Yayi Boni gave the advice during a discussion as panelists at the inauguration dinner of former President Olusegun Obasanjo's charity foundation in London on Friday.

The discussion, anchored by US-based Richard Attias centred on prospects and challenges for the continent's growth and development; what the continent must do to achieve progress, and the role of the youth and Africans in Diaspora towards the development of the various sectors that would transform potentialities of the region into real development.

President Jonathan, who described Nigeria's private sector as "young and vibrant" stressed the necessity for stable governance, education and exposure for development; adding that business and enterprise should be private sector-led and information technology-driven.

In her contribution, President Sirleaf contended, "Africa is rising" as democracy takes a foothold in many countries where people's electoral choices are now respected, saying, "the good things in Africa are by far more than pockets of problems here and there".