1. PREFACE
Thisis a playwhichbothersonthe moral degenerationanddecadence inNigeriaof today.
It delvesintothe home andusesthe familyof Mr.JohnYakubu as a morallyuprightfamilyandthat of
Mr. Tewogbade asanimmoral and corruptone.
Bothe Mr. Tewogbade andMr. Yakubuworkwiththe criminal investigationDepartmentof the police
force.
Mr. Tewogbade iscorrupt,he sendsthe juniorofficerstocollectbribesfrommotoristsonthe roadand
theycome back to ‘deliver’tohiminthe office.He alsopaidthe principal of hisson’sschool toget
somebodytoimpersonate himinthe WAECExamination.
At the endof the play,the cat is letoutof the bag and he paysdearlyfor hisactionsof bribery and
corruptionandhis inactionsof notgivinghischildapropermoral andacademicupbringing.
1

2. NARRATOR
I bidall our parentswelcome once againtoour yearlyendof the yearactivities.We believethat,the
home isthe firstwhere a childcomesincontact witheducationbefore experiencingthe fourwallsof the
classroom,therefore itisveryexpedientandcannot be overlooked,thatiswhyitisconstantlyourfocal
point.
I hope we are notlackinginour dutiesasparents,evenasteachers?
I’ll like ustoponderon thisas we watchanotherpowerpackedplaytitled‘charitybeginsathome’.
Thankyou.
2

3. Thisplaywas firstproducedbythe Hosanna International HighSchool Studentsof Ebute- Ikoroduatthe
School Premisesduringthe endof the yearactivitiesinDecember,2005 withthe followingcast;
Narrator - NaheematAndu
Kunle Tewogbade –Selwin
Mrs. Tewogbade - Tolu Dada
Mr. Tewogbade
Phillip(theirDriver)-Iyanu
Remi Yakubu - Lucky Akataobi
Mrs Yakubu-- TitilayoAdeyanju
Mr. Yakubu Nzube Ilechukwu
Principal (God’swillCollege)
Principal (AnyhowCollege)
Mr. Garuba
Mrs. Nnamdi
Ewalade - Suliyat
Janet(Tewo’sSecretary) - Dorcas Olorunkoya
2 police Officers
Studentsof Godswill’College
3

4. CHARACTERS
Kunle - A studentof God’swill highschool,butwasexpelledbecause of hishighlevelof indisciplineon
the one hand and hisfather’sbadinfluence onthe other.He ishoweverre-enrolledatthe notorious
AnyhowCollegetositforhisWAEC Examination.
Mrs Tewogbade- Kunle’sMother
Mr. Tewogbade-HeisKunle’s fatherandamemberof the criminal investigationDepartmentof the
Police force.
Remi- anambitiousanddiligentstudentof God’swills HighSchool,whoread hardfor hisexamination
and excelled.He wasadmittedtostudyElectrical andElectronicsEngineeringatthe obaAwon
Universities(OAU).
Mr. Yakubu:Remi’sfatherandan uprightanddisciplinedassistantCommissionerof Police.Tewogbade
Boss.
Mrs Yakubu- Remi’sMother
Principal I - Gods’will College
Principal II – AnyhowCollege
Police Officers
Studentsof God’swill College
4

5. ACTS I
SCENE I
FAMILY 1
(Lightis shown on a duplex in Ikoyi,an elite suburb of Lagos).Kunle isinthe sittingroomdownstairs
dancingto the loudblastof musicfromthe soundsystem.
(Enterhis mother) a middle agedwomanof aboutthirtyfive,withherdriver,the lattercarryingherbag
and so manyloads.
Kunle
(Singingalongtothe musicand dancingto the rhythmof the song) eh,eh,ohgirlshave youseenher…?
Seenher,seenher…(Swinginghisarmsandshakinghishead).
Mrs. Tewogbade
Oh mine!Myson ishome already.(To the driver) you,take those thingsto the store.
Phillips
Yes madam,shouldIdrop the bag there too?
Mrs. Tewogbade
(Irritated) whata question!Rat,dropthe bag inmy room upstairs,youdunce!
Phillips
Sorry madam!
Mrs. Tewogbade
Keepyoursorry!(Hisses atthe driver, and laughsatthe son who is still busy dancing and singing).
Kunle
(Unawareof hismum’spresence) eyah,eyah, what’zup!Thismusicissoso interesting;itmustgetthe
Grammy award.

6. Mrs. Tewogbade
Kunle Love,howare youdoing?I can see youare reallyenjoyingyourself.
Kunle
(On hearing his mother’svoice) ohmum,I neverknew youare here,how are youdoingmum?
Mrs Tewogbade
Can youjustreduce the volume of the musica bit,so that youwill be able tohear me clearly?
Kunle
Oh mum, don’tyoudisturbyourbaby, youcan see I am reallyenjoyingmyself.
Mrs. Tewogbade
Alright,doas youwish,justto informyouthatyour fatherhasbeenable to enroll youinanotherschool.
(Sheascendsthestairs,two at a time, and goesup to her room).
Kunle
Please,letme restojare!Educationshouldnotbe by force!(Keepsondancingandsinging
simultaneously)
CURTAIN FALLS

7. ACTS II
SCENEII
GODSWILL COLLEGE
Students are on the assembly ground on a Monday morning and the principal of the school is
addressing them.
Principal
Good morning students.
Students
Good morning sir.
Principal
I have got a very important announcement to make this morning, and I want each and every
one of you to listen attentively.
Students
Silence (looks of fear in their eyes)
Principal
Imagine, one of the parents of a student came to my house over the weekend requesting the
school to organise someone who is going to sit for his son’s examination for him.
Students
(Unanimously) What! Incredible (murmurs among the students).
Principal
Well, do not be surprised, that I told him off immediately and I promised to expel the son from
school today.
By the way, where is Kunle Tewogbade?
Come out here!

8. AN ss3 student
He is not in school today sir!
Principal
Well, for the benefit of the others who are also planning to do such a thing, then
you are in the wrong place. Thus is a school where any form of examination malpractice will not
be condoned.
Believe you me, if any of you is caught in any act of malpractice, the person will be dealt with
appropriately.
(To the SS3 students) whenever Kunle makes it back to school please let me know.
Good morning!
The students disperse and marched to their various classrooms.
ACT 3
SCENEIII
THE STATE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DEPARTMENT (SCID) HEADQUATERS
The criminal investigation department is having a confidential meeting on a Monday morning
and presiding over the meeting is the Assistant commissioner of Police (ACP), Mr. John Yakubu.
Mr. Yakubu:
Good Morning all
(All at once) morn sir! (All stand at attention)
Mr. Yakubu
Easy…
(They are all now at ease)

9. Mr. Yakubu
Well, there is a report reaching us for some time now, that one of the commissioned officers
has boys who deliver.
Mr. Tewogbade
Who could that be! Then, appropriate action should be taken.
Mr. Yakubu
…….. And exactly what do you think is the appropriate action, Officer?
Mr. Tewogbade
All the officers involved should be fired! (Aside) I believe I have covered my tracks well.
Mr. Garuba
I think we should do a thorough investigation of this issue, so as not to put it on the wrong
person.
Mrs. Nnamdi
Anyway, my own suggestion is that we should get the junior officers involved in the issue
directly, I mean the boys who actually deliver to the superior officer in question to confess and
name their accomplice in the act.
Mr. Yakubu
The issue is that the boys have confessed and had already spill the name of the accomplice
Mr. Tewogbade
Who are the boys? How can you discover such a huge crime without carrying others along
before torturing the said boys to confession?
Mr. Garba
Are you addressing the ACP like that?
What insolence!

10. Tewogbade
Terribly sorry sir! (Scrambles to attention immediately) it’s just that I feel we should be
carried along from the onset of the case, as superior officers’ sir, and …….
Mr Garba
Anyway, since the boys have confessed, then case closed, all I think should be done now is
taking the appropriate action just as Officer Tewogbade said the other time.
Mrs Nnamdi
There is point dragging issues, no more controversy, I also support Mr. Garba. Mr. Tewo, what
do you think?
Mr. Tewogbade
(Still at attention looking lost and dazed)
Mr. Yakubu
Well, I also fully agreed with all you have said, case closed.
Good morning!
All (except Tewogbade)
Morn sir! (Springs to attention), almost immediately fall to at ease and left the room
Tewogbade
(Still stands @ attention and looking very lost) mouth agape.
CURTAIN FALLS

11. ACT V
SCENE V
Family 2
A bungalow in Carter Street on Lagos Mainland, Remi is in the studying when his father
entered.
Remi
(Reading his book on the study table down beside the Dinning section of the house)
Mr. Yakubu
Oh good, let me not disturb him, he is busy reading.
Remi
(Suddenly looks up and saw his dad going into his bedroom.) Welcome Daddy! (Prostrating)
Mr. Yakubu
Oh Remi, how are you? I never wanted to disturb you at all, how was your day?
Remi
Fine daddy, and how was work today sir?
I give God the glory.
I can see you are busy studying for your forthcoming exam. I wish all the very best my dear.
Remi

12. Thanks sir.
Mr. Yakubu
You are most welcome; let me go to the bathroom before I come for my food.
Remi
Ok daddy (goes back to the table to continue his reading).
CURTAIN FALLS
ACTS VI

13. Mr. Tewogbade
(Tewo is alone in his office soliloquizing) oh my God! I never knew those boys could mention my
name, I thought I had covered my tracts well…..
(The ACP opens the door and barges in unannounced).
Mr. Yakubu
Since the cat has been let out of the bag, an appropriate action has got to be taken, right?
Mr Tewogbade
Sir, (scrambles to his feet and stands at attention) actually, what I was trying to say at the
meeting the other was that we should issue a warning to the persons concerned since it is a
first time…..,
Mr. Yakubu
Inspector Tewogbade, it’s a pity you have dragged the name of this section in the mud…
Mr. Tewogbade
What are you talking about sir?
Mr. Yakubu
You know quite alright what! Just pick up your letter at the administrative office. You have been
fired!
Mr. Tewogbade
(His two hands on the head) oh my God! What have I done this for! I never thought it would
end up like this. I am finished!
CURTAIN FALLS

14. ACTS VIII
Mrs. Yakubu came into the house with a letter; she picked from the letter-box and showed it to
her husband.
Mrs. Yakubu
There is a letter in the box (hands over the letter)
Mr. Yakubu
Let’s see (collects the letter and tears it open) oh! It’s a result from JAMB
Mrs. Yakubu
It must be Remi’s JAMB Result.
Mr. Yakubu
The principal also called to tell me that he made all his papers with distinction all through in
WAEC. Where is he?
Mrs. Yakubu
He must be in his room, reading as usual.
Mr. Yakubu
Alright, call him to come and collect his JAMB result so that we can know his scores.
Mrs. Yakubu
(Mrs. Yakubu got up and walked to Remi’s room, calling out to him) Remi!
Remi
Yes, Mum
Mrs. Yakubu
Come over here, your dad wants to see you.
Remi
Yes mum, I am on my way.
Mr. Yakubu

15. Remi, this is your JAMB result, tear it open and let’s know your scores. (Hands over the slip to
Remi)
Remi
(Collected it and opens it prayerfully) oh dad, (sigh of relief) to God be the glory; I scored 387.
This is also the highest score, and I have been selected as an award recipient, this also come
with an admission letter to study medicine in the Nations prestigious University (Oba Awon
University).
Mrs. Yakubu
We thank God that all your efforts have been crowned with success.
Remi
Thanks mum and dad lets return all glory to the Almighty God.
(The family kneels down to thank God in prayers after singing a song of praise).

16. Acts ix
Tewogbade enters the house looking morose, he met Kunle as usual dancing and rapping to a
music blasting from the sound system.
Kunle
Yea, yea…. (Sings and dances)
Tewogbade
You this boy, switch off the music!
Kunle:
(Keeps rapping and dancing) unaware of his father’s presence.
Tewogbade
(Goes to switch off the sound system) can’t you see that I have come in? What are you making
all that noise for? Did you not see the letter that is addressed to you in the letter box outside
the gate? By the way, have you got your WAEC result?
Kunle
Dad, which of all these questions do you actually want me to answer?
Tewogbade
Hopeless boy! Stupid boy!! Are you asking me such a nasty question? With all I have done for
you? (Very angry and irritated)
Kunle
Well dad! Do not take it so personal please, its okay- I will answer your questions one after the
other-
I did not noticed you came in, as for the noise, it’s no noise at all, just having a good time, well,
didn’t check any letter-box, so I wouldn’t know there is a letter there for me. For the WAEC
result, don’t know which one you are talking about because I never sat for any exam!

17. (Almost immediately there is a heavy knock on the door)
Enters Mrs. Tewogbade, Principal of Anyhow College, and two other gentlemen wearing dark
suits.
Mrs. Tewogbade
Oh, Darling, you are home already? Kunle you are also at home, how do you do? These three
gentlemen have been at the door for some time now pressing the doorbell.
Mr Tewogbade
Did you not know your son disconnected the wire from the bell for God knows why?
Anyway, gentlemen, what can we do for you?
Principal
Oh sir, I am the principal of the school where you registered your son for WAEC.
Mr. Tewogbade
Oh! (Recollects the face) that is true and correct. You are welcome, I guess these are some of
your teachers….,
CID 1
(Smiles) thank God you recognized him, I am from the Garki police Station, (shows him his ID
Card) you are under arrest for aiding and abating examination malpractices and for going
against you’re the police code of conducts
Mr. Tewogbade
What exactly do you mean?
CID 2
You sure know what we mean mister, I guess this is the son he registered too, you are all under
arrest!
(Handcuffs father and son)
Mrs Tewogbade

18. Oh my God, but why me? I have warned you this man severally to be careful of your corruptible
acts, you never listened!
CID 1
Madam, it’s too late to cry when the head is off the neck!
CID 1
Arrest the three of them and let’s move.
Mrs. Tewogbade is shedding tears and crying bitterly as her son and husband are being pushed
away by the police.
THE END
NARRATOR

19. Like father, like son, so the saying goes, what kind of morals are we inculcating into our
children. Do we teach them to be upright or do we aid them in crime or do we even cover them
whenever they do something bad?
An adage says “ spare the rod, and spoil the child”. I hope this short play will gear us up more to
our responsibilities as parents and guardians.
THANK YOU.