African Journal of Agricultural Research Vol. 2(12), pp. 678-686, December, 2007

ISSN 1991- 637X­© 2007 Academic Journals

Full Length Research Paper

The effect of cooperative thrift and credit societies on personal agency belief: a study of entrepreneurs in Osun State, Nigeria

Bamidele Adekunle* and Spencer J. Henson

¹Research Associate Ontario Agricultural College, University of Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada.

²Department of Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada. 5198244120 ext 53134.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: badekunl@uoguelph.ca. Phone: 5193419632

 Accepted 8 October, 2007

This paper analyzed the entrepreneurial level of microentrepreneurs in Nigeria using the basis of whether those who belong to groups where there is interdependence like the Cooperative Thrift and Credit Societies have better personal agency belief than those who are not members. The results show that entrepreneurial alertness is predicated upon being a member of Cooperative Thrift and Credit society. The same result also prevails, after taking into consideration pre-existing conditions like age, education and gender.

Key words: Personal agency belief, perceived self efficacy, locus of control, cooperative thrift and credit society; entrepreneurship.