Graduatepro’s audiobook project to the rescue of job seekers

Succour has finally come for millions of
unemployed youths in Africa as Graduatepro, an
audacious audiobook project aimed at addressing
unemployment among Africa’s youth population,
titled “I’m A Graduate, Now What? was last week
unveiled in Lagos. The 51 chapter audiobook,

the first-of-its-kind project,by Ms. Naomi Lucas,
will serve as the definitive companion to anyone
who schooled and hopes to work within Africa. The book features 55 exemplary Nigerians
selected from a wide range of industries across
Nigeria. These Nigerians will serve as narrators
on the project, giving life to the scripts under the
supervision of a Voice Coach and a Creative
Director. The project will be replicated in key
African countries using local influencers in the
region and managed by Graduatepro’s Country
Leads.
Speaking at the event which took place at
Protea Hotel Leadway, Ikeja, Mr. Audu Maikori,
Founder – Chocolate City Group, who shared his
recent experience working on the SURE-P
Graduate Internship Scheme said, “Internships
and apprenticeships are part of the tools for
capacity building that young people must adopt. Ms. Naomi Lucas, the project visionary and
Creative Director of the initiative said, “We must
adopt a Pan-African approach to solving
unemployment. We must show our young people
that they can stay here and find meaningful
work.” She further stated that contrary to popular
opinion, there are jobs; the problem remains a
wide gap between available jobs and the skills
needed to execute them and that the gap stunts
business growth which would have created even
more jobs.
Continuing, she stated that “essentially Africa’s
biggest boost project is bringing together
Africans with Africa to tackle unemployment on
the continent by reading chapters in a book titled
I’m a graduate now what? that lays bay the
nuances of Africa’s job market place.
‘I’ve been very involved in youth development
and it is a sad situation, you have young people
dying at sea, recruitment into religious extremism
is really high, so looking at these things I mean
unemployment rates in Africa for example, the
population constitutes 70 percent of young
people but we still have high unemployment
rates and for us to be at peace and live in peace
is important that young people find work and I
believe the Africans can solve Africa’s problems.
We know what the problem is.
On what she hopes to achieve with the project,
she said “My aim is to use the power of audio-
visuals, young people’s attraction to the creative
industries and the pervasiveness of internet and
mobile technology to reverse the scourge of
unemployment on the continent. Learning styles
have evolved and the onus is on those who
facilitate learning to remain one step ahead.”
She reiterated her belief that every young person
should have access to opportunities irrespective
of their location, how much money they have or
what time of the day it is.