In Search of the Identity of A Successful Businessman: A Thumbprint Study in Kano State Nigeria

For a long time, thumbprint has been used as a means of assessing or predicting one's success in life. This study was aimed at determining the relationship of the thumbprint with economic status of businessmen in Kantin Kwari market Kano, Nigeria. The study was a cross sectional and involved the collection of Biodata (age, Sex, Marital status and economic status) using interview, thumbprint was mapped using fingerprint pad. The thumbprint was mapped using the thumb of each hand (both right and left) and was recorded as one of the conventional types of thumbprints (Whorl, Loop, and Arch). Thumbprint Data was expressed as frequency table, and economic data was presented as mean, standard deviation and standard error of mean. Economic Mean differences was compared between and within groups of businessmen with different types of thumbprints. Results however, did not show any significant relation between thumbprint and economic status, although businessmen with Loop thumbprint had higher mean income than the other two groups. Thumbprint cannot therefore be used categorically as a predictor of one's business success but may be used as an ordinary pointer.

Key Words: Thumbprint. Relationship, Income, Businessmen, Kano