Centrality of Social Capital as a Factor for Career Progression among Female Academic Staff of Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Abstract

Capital may be described as wealth in the form of cash, cash equivalents, or human created assets and a valuable resource of a particular kind which can be classified into financial, physical, natural, human, and social capital. Social capital which is the main thrust of the article can be referred to as the connections among individuals, the social networks and the norms of reciprocity and trustworthiness that arise from them. This paper established the centrality of social capital as a factor for career progression among female academic staff of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. The paper explored the forms and sources of social capital used by female academic, the challenges faced by female academics, and how they can use social capital for academic progression. The study concluded that although social capital, human capital and other forms of capital can be put to use, what makes social capital central to other types of capital is that through the its use, female academics can come together to collectively resolve common problems.