Aki Reveals Childhood Struggles After Stunted Growth Diagnosis

Nollywood actor Chinedu Ikedieze, popularly known as Aki, has shared a heart-wrenching story of how he struggled with depression and suicidal thoughts after being diagnosed with stunted growth as a child.

In a recent interview, Ikedieze recounted his childhood ordeal, explaining how his mother took him to the hospital, where doctors informed her that he had “stunted growth” or “growth retardation.”

“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 be there for him,'” Ikedieze recalled.

“That hit me hard. The doctor said, ‘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.”

Ikedieze revealed that growing up with his condition was incredibly difficult, as people mocked him and called him names, leading him to cry in his room multiple times.

“People taunted me. I cried several times. They called me names. It got so bad that, at times, I thought of ending it all.”

Ikedieze revealed that despite the pain, his mother encouraged him to focus on education, as physical labor was not an option for him.

Today, Chinedu Ikedieze is one of Nollywood’s most celebrated actors, proving that determination and self-belief can triumph over adversity.