Veteran Nollywood actor Chinedu Ikedieze, popularly known as Aki, has shared how he overcame ridicule about his height by dedicating himself to his education.

He revealed that during his early years, he was frequently mocked and called offensive names because of his short stature.

The harsh treatment left him deeply hurt, often bringing him to tears and even pushing him to the brink of suicidal thoughts.

However, his mother’s advice became his guiding light.

"My mother told me, 'If you want to go abroad, read your books.' So, I knew the only weapon I had to conquer the world was education, so I paid more attention to my studies," he said in a viral video posted on X on March 14, 2025.

Aki explained that whenever he felt overwhelmed by negativity, he reminded himself of his mother’s words. "I thought, why not study, then? Until these books fail me, I will keep going. That became my source of comfort," he added.

His commitment to education and perseverance eventually led him to a successful career in Nollywood, proving that knowledge and determination can silence even the harshest critics.

Watch video below:

“There were times I thought of ending it all”Veteran Nigerian actor, Chinedu Ikedieze, better known as Aki, has revealed his struggle with stigma, growing up as a person with dwarfism. pic.twitter.com/EHzOdfSjUL— SIKAOFFICIAL🦍 (@SIKAOFFICIAL1) March 14, 2025