Veteran actor Chinedu Ikedieze, widely recognised by his stage name Aki, recently opened up about his experiences with childhood bullying, which significantly affected his self-esteem and self-worth due to a medical condition he has lived with.

Best known for his role in the iconic late 1990s film Aki na Ukwa, Chinedu revealed that the harsh treatment he faced from his peers had a lasting impact on his confidence and belief in his ability to achieve his dreams.

He described how these unpleasant encounters with bullying not only fueled his self-doubt but also created obstacles in his pursuit of success in the entertainment industry.

Despite these challenges, Chinedu has persevered and emerged as a prominent figure in Nollywood, serving as an inspiration to many who may face similar struggles.

The iconic actor disclosed that his mother advised him to embrace education, knowing he wasn’t able-bodied enough to take up menial jobs.

“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 didnt 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,” he stated.

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