Nollywood actor Chinedu Ikedieze, popularly known as “Aki,” has opened up about his struggles with stunted growth and how he once considered ending his life because of it.
In an interview with Chude Jideonwo, Ikedieze revealed that at the age of nine, he was diagnosed with stunted growth, a condition that subjected him to constant mockery from his peers. He recalled how hearing the doctor’s words felt like a heavy blow.
“I was born and raised in the village, so when the doctor spoke in English, it really hit me. He told my mom, ‘Stop worrying. There’s nothing wrong with him except that he has stunted growth.’”
Seeing the term “growth retardation” on his medical report left him confused and devastated. The taunting and name-calling took a toll on his mental health, and at one point, he started having suicidal thoughts.
However, his mother’s words of encouragement became his source of strength. She urged him to focus on his education as a way to overcome his challenges.
“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.”
Today, the actor credits his resilience and focus on education as key factors that allowed him to overcome his struggles and rise to fame.
By Ezinne Okorie.
