If your friend cannot remember her Apple ID info credentials for this iPad, then this iPad is a completely dead and useless device to you.
Activation Lock is a personal data, privacy protection feature that CANNOT EVER be circumvented/defeated.
No one here can help you.
Apple maybe able to help ONLY if your friend still possesses the original sales receipt from Apple and bring both the iPad and Apple sales receipt to your “local” Apple Store.
Other than that Apple will NOT be able to help as they require proof of original ownership of any iOS/iPadOS device/
Also, how old is this iPad, exactly?
If this is an iPad 2, 3, 4 or 1st gen iPad Mini 1, then I would NOT bother with ANY of these iPad models in 2021.
These iPad modes cannot ever upgrade beyond iOS any version of iOS 9 or 20.
These iPad models are too old and obsolete, now.
Sorry.
Apple ended support for all 8-10-year old iOS devices well over 4 years, ago, in 2016.
Third party app developers abandoned and stopped supporting these 8-10-year old iOS devices nearly 3 years, ago, in 2018.
There are, virtually, NO MORE third party apps available from the iOS App Store, any longer!
Third party compatible apps for such old devices are few and far between, now, in 2021.
You’ll never get any older, compatible apps, initially from the iOS App Store for such old iPad models now.