Stakeholder Management Practices and Corporate Reputation in Cement Manufacturing Firms in Sokoto State

This study examines stakeholder management practices and their influence on corporate reputation among cement manufacturing firms operating in Sokoto State, Nigeria. Cement manufacturing is a significant contributor to industrial activity in the North West zone, and firms in this sector face growing pressure from local communities, environmental regulators, and shareholders to adopt responsible stakeholder engagement approaches. Corporate reputation, increasingly recognised as a strategic asset, is shaped by how consistently firms address the interests of diverse stakeholder groups. The study draws on stakeholder theory and adopts a survey design, combining questionnaires administered to 160 respondents including community representatives, employees, and investors, with content analysis of corporate sustainability reports. Stakeholder management quality is assessed across dimensions of engagement frequency, responsiveness, and grievance resolution mechanisms. Data are analysed using Likert scale scoring, descriptive statistics, and Spearman rank correlation. The study anticipates that firms with proactive and inclusive stakeholder management frameworks will enjoy significantly stronger corporate reputations. Findings will guide management boards, corporate affairs units, and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria in designing governance-aligned stakeholder engagement protocols. This research contributes to the sparse governance literature focused on manufacturing industries in the North West geopolitical zone. Keywords: stakeholder management, corporate reputation, cement manufacturing, governance, Sokoto State.