Extended Family Networks as Social Capital: Their Impact on Educational Attainment in African Communities

Extended Family Networks as Social Capital: Their Impact on Educational Attainment in African Communities

Gbenga Michael Adeyeye

Issue: Vol. 7 No.3 2026 Article 12 pp.803 – 815
DOI: https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.20267312| Published online 15th April 2026

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ABSTRACT

This study examines the function of extended family networks as a type of social capital and their influence on educational achievement in African communities. Based on the ideas of Bourdieu, Coleman, and Putnam, this research investigates how collective kinship systems can promote or hinder educational opportunities. A qualitative case study design was employed to gather data from 45 participants in Ogbomoso North Local Government, Nigeria, utilizing semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, participant observation, document analysis, and key informant interviews. Thematic analysis indicated that extended family networks improve schooling through the aggregation of financial resources, the provision of emotional support, the transmission of cultural values, and the establishment of collective success expectations. Nonetheless, constraints such as financial pressure, migration, competing responsibilities, and intra-family conflicts diminish their efficacy in the long term. The results highlight the inconsistent and context-specific characteristics of social capital concerning educational outcomes. The study indicates that although extended families are essential for supporting children’s education, their contributions must be augmented by institutional initiatives, such as scholarships, community grants, and NGO-led mentorship programs. This research enhances academic discourse by elucidating the sociological significance of extended kinship in education and revealing lessons about policies that utilize indigenous support systems to foster equity in African education.

Keywords: Extended Family Networks, Social Capital, Educational Attainment, African Communities, Qualitative Research

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ABOUT AUTHOR(S)

Dr. Gbenga Michael Adeyeye has been a researcher for the past four years and has over 25 years of experience in the field of education. He is currently a Senior Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Johannesburg, with expertise in the Sociology of Education. He holds a Doctor of Education (D.Ed.) in Sociology of Education, a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Adult and Industrial Education, and a Bachelor of Science in Education (B.Sc. Ed.) in Physics Education. He has published extensively in reputable journals and has participated in both local and international conferences, demonstrating his strong commitment to research.

TO CITE ARTICLE

Adeyeye, Gbenga Michael. “Extended family networks as Social Capital: Their impact on educational attainment in African Communities, ”E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences 7, no.3 (2026): 803 – 815. https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.20267312