Entrepreneurial habits and Adolescent Socialization into Economic Independence among the Bamilékés of West Cameroon

Abstract

Purpose: Entrepreneurial spirit and achievement is often linked to the cultural value of a people and such innovative and economic-driven values have today been perceived as core antecedents of business start-up. The journey from childhood to adulthood also goes with the transition of adolescents to economic independence and often ensured through socialization into work and entrepreneurial-driven cultural values. This study sought to examine the effect of entrepreneurial habits on adolescent socialization into economic independence among the Bamileke of Cameroon. The Social Cognitive Theory of Albert Bandura (1977) provided the theoretical starting point for this study. Methodology: The study adopted a quantitative design to test the influence of entrepreneurial habits on socialization of adolescents into economic independence. The study site was the Beamlike society of the West Region of Cameroon. With regard to sample, 384 adolescents were recruited from 8 selected villages for the study. Participants were selected using purposive sampling and a questionnaire with determined internal reliability coefficient was used for information gathering. Data were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings: Results show that entrepreneurial habit was able to explain the variations in economic independence at 73.7%. Analysis also suggested that a unit increase in the level of entrepreneurial habit will increase socialization into economic independence at 0.324 units. Furthermore, results confirmed the model as a good fit (F= 1068.761), and consequently, the null hypothesis was rejected. Recommendations: Therefore, work habit significantly estimated the level of socialization into economic independence of adolescents. Considering that entrepreneurial development is the most important input in the economic development of any society, the objectives of industrial development, balanced regional growth, and generation of employment opportunities should be achievable through entrepreneurial development and this depends on the inculcation entrepreneurial values in young people. Therefore, adolescents should be socialized and guided on how to develop business habits in order to be able to detect opportunities, indulge in business start-up in order to achieve economic independence. The Government strategies of creating job creators should be reinforced at the grass-root and this should build on the creative and innovative values of a people.