Developing an Original Theoretical Model of ICT-Mediated Social Capital Formation in Nigerian Rural Communities

Social capital formation in rural Nigerian communities is being transformed by ICT access, and the mechanisms through which mobile communication and internet platforms create, extend, or erode bonding and bridging social capital in rural contexts require original theoretical modelling that goes beyond existing digital social capital frameworks developed for urban or Western settings. This study develops an original theoretical model of ICT-mediated social capital formation in rural Nigerian communities. A multi-phase grounded theory study was conducted across eight rural communities in four geopolitical zones: two in Benue State (North Central), two in Kebbi State (North West), two in Akwa Ibom State (South South), and two in Ebonyi State (South East). Phase 1 conducted participant observation and 56 in-depth interviews examining how mobile phone and internet use influences trust networks, information sharing, cooperative economic action, and community governance. Phase 2 applied focused coding and theoretical sampling to achieve saturation and developed the substantive theory. Phase 3 subjected the theory to member checking and expert theoretical review. Available social capital and ICT literature from Sub-Saharan Africa identifies kinship network amplification through mobile communication as the dominant social capital mechanism, contrasting with community bridging capital creation through internet access. Putnam's Social Capital Theory, Bourdieu's Capital Framework, and the ICT for Development Theory provide sensitising theoretical concepts. The original theory of Digitally Mediated Social Capital Stratification explains how ICT access reinforces existing social hierarchies while creating selective bridging opportunities in rural Nigerian contexts. Keywords: social capital, ICT, rural communities, Nigeria, grounded theory.