Ethical Sourcing Practices and Corporate Reputation in Nigerian Cocoa Export Firms: Evidence from Cross River State

This study examines the relationship between ethical sourcing practices and corporate reputation among cocoa export firms in Cross River State, South South Nigeria. Cross River State is one of Nigeria's leading cocoa-producing regions, with significant export volumes directed to European and North American markets. Growing international pressure for traceable, sustainably sourced cocoa under frameworks such as the EU Deforestation Regulation has elevated the importance of ethical sourcing at origin. Using a descriptive survey design, data were collected from 75 export firm managers, field procurement officers, and cooperative society representatives in Ikom and Ogoja cocoa-growing communities. The study assesses ethical sourcing practices along four dimensions: farmer fair pay verification, child labour exclusion compliance, forest protection adherence, and traceability documentation. Corporate reputation is measured using stakeholder perception surveys adapted for B2B export contexts, including buyer satisfaction indicators and certification retention rates. Descriptive statistics and correlation analysis are employed. The study is situated within current literature on ethical supply chains and export competitiveness in African agricultural commodity sectors. Findings are expected to show that firms with formalised ethical sourcing programmes maintain stronger buyer relationships and higher export premiums. Recommendations are directed at firm management, the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, and state agriculture boards on embedding ethical sourcing into national commodity export standards. Keywords: ethical sourcing, corporate reputation, cocoa, Cross River State, export supply chain.