Actor Aki opens up on childhood bullying, suicidal thoughts

Veteran actor Chinedu Ikedieze, better known by his stage name Aki, recently talked about how bullying as a child severely impacted his sense of value and self-esteem because of a chronic illness.

Chinedu, well known for his part in the classic late 1990s movie Aki na Ukwa, said that the unkind treatment he received from his peers affected his confidence and belief in his capacity to fulfill his dreams for a long time.

He explained how these negative experiences with bullying not only increased his self-doubt but also put him in a difficult position as he tried to succeed in the entertainment business.

In spite of these obstacles, Chinedu has persisted and become a well-known personality in Nollywood, inspiring others who might encounter like difficulties.

The well-known actor revealed that his mother encouraged him to pursue education because she knew he wasn't physically fit enough to work in low-paying jobs.

"I recall the physician stating, 'Madam, he has 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,” he stated.