By JAPHET ALAKAM

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.”

•The Creative Director of the project, Ms Noami Lucas addressing the audience during the unveiling

Chief Executive Officer – Lucere Ltd, Dr. Yemi Amusan, underscored youth empowerment and entrepreneurial funding as keys to solving the unemployment problem in Africa.

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.

The audiobook, which will be produced by Mr. Kehinde Dacosta Lawrence with Mr. Remi Olutimayin as Voice Coach, commenced on the 22nd of July 2015 and will last until mid September, 2015.

Some of the confirmed narrators include: Audu Maikori, OC Ukeje, Segun Lawal, Yemi Amusan, Dare Art Alade, Chioma Omeruah (Chigurl), Ayo Makun (AY), Chinedu Ikedieze, Jane Maduegbuna, Lanre Olusola, Michelle Aisha Bello, Kola Oyeneyin, Nimi Akinkugbe, Japheth Omojuwa, Andre Blaze Henshaw, Moses Siasia, Lydia Idakula Sobogun, Ojoma Ochai and Wana Udobang amongst others.