There is a tab in the Settings app titled "Mail, Contacts, Calendars." If he doesn't already have an e-mail loaded on the iPad, pressing that tab line will bring him to the "Add Account" page (if he already has an e-mail loaded, press the Mail, Contacts, Calendars tab and select "add account" in the next page.
You will need to know what type of e-mail account your friend is trying to load: IMAP, Exchange or POP (his Internet Service Provider (ISP) will know if he doesn't). If all else fails, select "Other" from the options available.
Once you select a type of e-mail account to add, you will need the username and password. In addition, you may also need to know the name of the ISP's sent and receive mail server (again, that can be gotten from his ISP).
Once you've loaded in all the details, it should verify and then work.
Hopefully, this will get that e-mail loaded. it's hard to provide step-by-step instructions, what with all the different ISPs out there. If we're lucky, this'll get it working. If not, holler back and we take another try at it. Good luck.
Marilyn