Nigerian actor, Chinedu Ikedieze, better known as Aki, has opened up about his struggles with growth retardation while growing up.
In an interview with media personality, Chude Jideonwo, Aki stated that he got to know about his condition when he was almost ten years old.
“Something happened to me when I was nine years, six months. The doctor told my mother, ’Madam, what he has is stunted growth’. I later saw that growth retardation is another word for my condition. I struggled to pronounce the words,” he said.
He added that he wanted to take his own life when he found out he wasn’t growing up like other children. He was bullied by friends, schoolmates and even his own family.
“While they were throwing all those tantrums, I cried several times. It got bad o! There were times I thought of ending it all.
“Thank God I no grow up for Lagos o! Third Mainland Bridge no far o,” he added on a lighter note as they laughed.
He expressed gratitude to his parents, particularly his mother, for taking care of him but noted they never had that parent-to-child kind of relationship.
“So, when I remember my mom’s input, how much she did to see us through, which would draw empathy, I’ll become emotional. I’ll want to call her and know how she’s doing. But you know that kind of relationship people have with their parents, I never had,” he stated.
