Empirical Study of the Relationship Between Mosque Attendance and Community Social Capital in Kwara State

This study empirically examines the relationship between mosque attendance frequency and the formation of social capital among Muslim community members in Kwara State, North Central Nigeria. Social capital, comprising trust, reciprocity, and civic networks, is widely recognised as a driver of community development, and mosques have historically functioned as important social infrastructure in Muslim societies. The study employs a quantitative survey design, administering the Adapted Social Capital Assessment Tool alongside a mosque attendance frequency scale to 380 Muslim adults in Ilorin West, Offa, and Edu local government areas. Data are analysed using multiple regression and path analysis. Findings demonstrate a significant positive relationship between mosque attendance frequency and all three dimensions of social capital measured: bonding capital within immediate mosque communities, bridging capital across different community groups, and linking capital through connections with religious leadership. The relationship is strongest for bonding capital and weakest for bridging capital across ethnic and occupational lines. Weekly attendance shows non-linear returns, with peak social capital gains observed at three to four attendances per week. The study recommends mosque-based community development programming that capitalises on the social capital formation function of mosque attendance, and further research on bridging capital barriers across Nigeria's diverse Muslim communities. Keywords: mosque attendance, social capital, community development, Kwara State, Islamic social institution.