EFFECTS OF ETHICAL LEADERSHIP ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AS IT RELATES SOCIAL CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY

The study examined the effects of ethical leadership on social responsibility with a specific focus on how ethical leadership influences the promotion, implementation, and organizational commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR) within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The objectives of the study were to examine the influence of ethical leadership on the promotion and implementation of CSR initiatives in organizations and to assess the extent to which ethical leadership enhances organizational commitment to social responsibility practices. The study adopted the Stakeholder Theory as its theoretical framework, emphasizing the central role of ethical leadership in aligning organizational goals with societal expectations. A descriptive survey design was employed, and data were collected from 80 respondents across selected ECOWAS institutions through structured questionnaires. The data were analyzed using Pearson correlation, which revealed a strong and significant relationship between ethical leadership and CSR implementation (r = 0.941, p < 0.05), as well as between ethical leadership and organizational commitment to social responsibility (r = 0.928, p < 0.05). These findings indicate that ethical leadership substantially promotes CSR practices and strengthens organizational dedication to social responsibility objectives. The study concludes that ethical leadership is a vital driver of effective CSR initiatives and sustainable organizational practices within ECOWAS. It recommends leadership development programs emphasizing ethics, institutionalization of CSR policies, stakeholder engagement, and periodic evaluation of CSR activities. The research contributes to theory by reaffirming the relevance of Stakeholder Theory in understanding ethical governance, to empirical knowledge by providing evidence from the West African context, and to practice by offering actionable strategies for improving ethical and socially responsible leadership in regional organizations.