Social Engineering and Innovation in Nigerian Telecommunication Firms

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between social engineering and innovation among Nigerian telecommunication firms, specifically MTN, GLO, and Airtel. Social engineering a psychological manipulation technique that exploits human vulnerabilities to extract confidential information represents a critical yet underexamined threat to organizational innovation capacity. Adopting a descriptive survey research design, primary data were collected through structured questionnaires administered to 245 respondents across operational centres in Edo State, Nigeria. The study employed Social Learning Theory as its theoretical framework, positing that organizational behaviours including susceptibility to manipulation are learned through observation, imitation, and social interaction within the workplace environment. Statistical analysis employed Pearson Product Moment Correlation and Spearman's Rho correlation. Findings revealed a weak positive relationship between social engineering and innovation (r = 0.116, p = 0.069), which did not reach conventional statistical significance at the 0.05 level. However, deeper analysis using Spearman's Rho indicated a weak but statistically significant positive correlation (ρ = 0.136, p = 0.034), suggesting that social engineering may indirectly stimulate reactive innovation as firms adapt to security threats. Descriptive analysis showed high awareness of social engineering threats (M = 3.82, SD = 1.07), with 75.6% of respondents reporting phishing or impersonation attempts, while innovation remained relatively robust (M = 3.75, SD = 1.11) despite security concerns. The study concludes that while social engineering poses significant risks to innovation processes, Nigerian telecommunication firms demonstrate adaptive resilience through security-driven innovation initiatives. Recommendations include comprehensive employee awareness training, simulated phishing exercises, multi-factor authentication systems, and the integration of security considerations into innovation management frameworks.

Keywords: Social Engineering, Innovation, Telecommunications, Organizational Security, Psychological Manipulation, Nigeria.