ABSTRACT
The dearth of morality in Nigeria's socio-political environment is the cause of various problems in society. Vices such as corruption, nepotism and all forms of fraudulent acts can be traced to the deficiency in individual morality, thus leading to a dystopian reality. These horrid realities have been addressed by male Nigerian playwrights such as Wole Soyinka, J. P. Clark and Femi Osofisan, among others. Such playwrights have relentlessly criticised social decadence and have, thus, served as society's moral conscience. Some Nigerian female playwrights have also tried to criticise the prevalent depravities, charting the path for a moralistic society. Some of these writers are Tess Onwueme, Osita Ezenwanaebe, Onyeka Iwuckukwu, Zulu Sofola, and Stella Oyedepo, among others. This chapter specifically investigates the selected plays of Stella Oyedepo, intending to use them as a moral compass for society. The chapter seeks to identify the contributions of female Nigerian playwrights towards the establishment of moral standards in the Nigerian society. Based on the analytical lens of the concept of the Superego in psychoanalysis and the Yoruba concept of omoluabi, this chapter argues that the plays of Stella Oyedepo have a deep impact on serving as a moral compass to readers in the move towards an ideal society.
