Nollywood actor Chinedu Ikedieze, popularly known as “Aki,” has shared a heartfelt and emotional story about his struggles with dwarfism. In a recent interview, Ikedieze revealed how he almost took his own life due to the constant teasing and mockery he faced as a child.
Ikedieze recalled how his mother took him to the hospital when he was around nine years old, and the doctor diagnosed him with “stunted growth” or “growth retardation.” He remembered how those words stuck with him and made him feel like he was somehow less than others.
The actor shared how people would taunt him and call him names, making him feel like he didn’t belong. He confessed that the pain and humiliation he felt were so overwhelming that he considered ending his life.
However, Ikedieze credited his mother for saving him from those dark thoughts. She encouraged him to focus on his education, which became his escape and his ticket to a better life.
In his word, “I remember my mom taking me to the hospital when I was around nine years old. I think I was sick. The doctor told her, ‘Madam, stop worrying yourself. He has no problem. Just make sure he reads his books, goes to school, and is there for him.”
“That hit me hard. I was born and brought up in the village, so hearing that kind of English from a doctor — it stuck with me. I remember the doctor saying, ‘Madam, what he has is stunted growth.’ Then he wrote something on a report, and I saw another word: growth retardation.”
“I didn’t even know how to pronounce it. That was when I started hearing those words over and over again. My mom always told me, ‘You are small; you cannot start carrying cement or doing furniture work. The best thing for you is to go and study.”
“So I knew that the only weapon I had to conquer the world was education. But it was painful. People taunted me. I cried several times. They called me names. It got so bad that, at times, I thought of ending it all.”
“I almost took my own life because of dwarfism, but my mother saved me.”
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