Beyond brain drain: Social capital and the mechanisms of diaspora knowledge transfer to Nigerian institutions

Diaspora knowledge transfer is central to institutional development, yet limited attention has been given to how Nigerian intellectuals abroad initiate, sustain, and translate such engagement into outcomes. This study examines how social capital shapes knowledge transfer by Nigerian intellectuals in the United States to institutions in Nigeria. Anchored in Social Capital Theory, it adopted a convergent mixed-methods design using a Google Forms questionnaire with closed-ended and open-ended items. After screening, 60 complete responses were analysed. The quantitative findings show that engagement was strongest in informal, network-driven activities, particularly mentorship, conferences, research networks, and co-authored publications, while formal roles such as postgraduate supervision, curriculum development, visiting appointments, external examination, and institutional partnerships remained limited. The qualitative findings explain this pattern by showing that knowledge transfer begins through network access, is activated by trust and reciprocity, is transmitted through collaborative activities, and produces reported outcomes shaped by institutional absorptive capacity. The integrated findings show that diaspora knowledge transfer is relational, uneven, and institutionally conditioned rather than automatic. The study contributes an empirically informed process framework for understanding diaspora knowledge transfer and offers policy insights for strengthening structured engagement between Nigerian diaspora intellectuals and home institutions.