The exchange program, “Responsible Governance,” is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, MSU’s Center for Advanced Study of International Development, Women and International Development Program and the African Studies Center.

The delegation — comprised of 18 Nigerian government officials, community leaders and university scholars — will be traveling to Grand Rapids, Detroit, East Lansing, Lansing, Ann Arbor and will spend an additional week in Washington, D.C.

They will be speaking to U.S. leaders in government, nonprofit, business and university realms in an effort to promote citizen participation in Nigeria’s government.

Douglas Roberts, director for IPPSR, will speak to the delegates Wednesday about the benefits of the MPLP fellowship program.

“We hope to explain this type of program we have in Michigan and provide (the delegates) with the materials necessary to duplicate it if they wish to set up a similar program,” Roberts said.

Operating since 1992, 400 fellows have graduated from MPLP. The group is made up of leaders from around the state, including mayors, county commissioners and community advisors.

Fellows receive monthly training in campaign finance laws, media relations and policy mechanics, Roberts said.

“We’ll speak to them on Wednesday, giving them an overview about how we train people to be good leaders and responsible stewards of our government,” said Cynthia Kyle, education program coordinator for IPPSR.

There are benefits on both sides of the spectrum, Kyle said. For instance, MPLP leaders are able to spread the word about their program, and the delegates receive training which they could potentially benefit from, she said.

The delegates were chosen through a country-wide recruitment and application process, said Ann Allegra, international program coordinator for the Center for Advanced Study of International Development.

“They are here to engage in dialogue about the best practices and how good governance is approached,” she said.