“There are many young leaders and community-based organizations in Nigeria doing incredible work to help people in their communities. However, lack of access to funds and lack of diversification of funding sources are significant challenges to support their initiatives.”

Dr. Jesse Lutabingwa, associate vice chancellor of international education and development at Appalachian

BOONE, N.C. — Dr. Jesse Lutabingwa, associate vice chancellor of international education and development at Appalachian State University, has been awarded funding that will grant him the opportunity to work with former Mandela Washington Fellow Dr. Segun Fatudimu in Lagos and Abuja, Nigeria, this spring.

Lutabingwa, who is also the director of international research and development and a professor in the Department of Government and Justice Studies at Appalachian, is the recipient of a Reciprocal Exchange Award — a component of the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders. The Mandela Washington Fellowship is a program of the U.S. Department of State and is administered by IREX.

The Reciprocal Exchange Award provides up to $5,000 in funding for American professionals to travel to sub-Saharan African countries in order to build upon strategic partnerships and professional connections developed during the Mandela Washington Fellowship in the United States.

Lutabingwa will travel to Lagos and Abuja, Nigeria, from April 20-May 6 to conduct, in collaboration with Fatudimu, two, four-day grant writing workshops for 100 young entrepreneurs, civic and public management leaders.

Fatudimu, who Lutabingwa described as “a dynamic, action-oriented leader,” is a dentist and president of the Mandela Washington Fellowship Alumni Association (MWFAA) in Nigeria. Additionally, he is the founder of Sozo Networks, a youth-led, volunteer-based nongovernmental organization, and participated as a Fellow in Appalachian’s 2017 Mandela Washington Fellowship program.

“While he was here at Appalachian as a Mandela Washington Fellow, we developed a very close relationship, and I learned more about his passion and his work in the community,” said Lutabingwa. “I felt the need to help him achieve his dreams.”

According to Lutabingwa and Fatudimu’s proposal, during the workshops, participants will learn:

• how project proposal ideas are developed;
• strategies for developing relationships with funders;
• the major components of a project proposal;
• how to develop strategies for successfully implementing funded projects;
• the grant opportunities available through the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria; and
• other fundraising concepts besides grant writing.

Additionally, participants will receive a resource directory of funding for community development projects in Africa compiled by Lutabingwa, and will share knowledge about what has worked well within their organizations and explore opportunities to collaborate with each other.

“Our goal through these workshops is to empower the young leaders to obtain the needed funds to implement their innovative ideas and solutions to transform their sectors and communities,” said Fatudimu.

Lutabingwa said, “Given the training of trainers focus of the workshop, we hope that each of the participants will train and share the grant writing skills with at least 10 others in their communities, ultimately reaching a minimum of 1,000 participants. This is an ambitious goal, but one that is achievable.”

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About the Office of International Programs

Appalachian State University combines a strong liberal arts foundation with a comprehensive, pervasive and integrated commitment to global engagement. The Office of International Programs assists App State in fulfilling its global engagement mission by working to develop awareness, knowledge, appreciation and respect of cultural differences — in both domestic and international contexts — in the university’s students, faculty and staff, as well as in the surrounding communities. Learn more at https://international.appstate.edu.

About the Department of Government and Justice Studies

Appalachian State University’s Department of Government and Justice Studies offers undergraduate programs in political science and criminal justice, and graduate programs in political science and public administration. Housed in the College of Arts and Sciences, the department has over 600 undergraduate majors and more than 70 graduate students. Learn more at https://gjs.appstate.edu.

About Appalachian State University

As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, affordable education for all. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.

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