# Chinedu Ikedieze

Chinedu Ikedieze// , MFR (born 12 December 1977) is a Nigerian actor, entrepreneur and investor. He is best known for playing alongside Osita Iheme in the 2002 film Aki na Ukwa. He has featured in over 150 films in a career spanning over 22 years. He has acted in the role of a kid in most of his films during his early career due to his stature and physical appearance. He is known as Aki for his performance in the film Aki na Ukwa. In 2011, he married fashion designer Nneoma Nwaijah and the couple had their first child in 2012. They have 2 daughters and a son.

## Education

Chinedu completed his primary and secondary education in Aba, Abia State. After completing his secondary education he earned a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Theatre Arts and a degree in Mass Communication from the Institute of Management and Technology, Enugu (IMT). After completing his studies at IMT, he initially wanted to become a lawyer but pursued a career in film acting in 1998 and initially featured in lesser roles. He first acted in a minor role in the 1998 film Evil Men. He enrolled in the prestigious New York Film Academy in 2004.

### Collaboration with Osita Iheme

He entered the Nollywood industry in 2000 and rose to recognition in a Nigerian film he acted in 2000, Aki na Ukwa, where he played the breakthrough role of Aki alongside another little person actor Osita Iheme. This created a bond between both of them. The duo were popularly identified as "Aki and Paw Paw" since the release of the film in 2002 and ever since they have both featured together in several films taking the lead roles in those movies. Both Chinedu and Osita have been maintaining onscreen and offscreen chemistry which is widely praised by the Nollywood fraternity. Chinedu and Osita collectively established Aki and Pawpaw Entertainment. They also own the Aki n Paw Child Care Foundation.

## Honours

In 2007, Ikedieze received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Africa Movie Academy Awards. He was also honored with the Order of the Federal Republic which was given by the then Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan for his contributions to Nollywood and to the economic growth of the country.
In 2018, he was honored in Miami, Florida in the United States of America as a distinguished visitor to the city of Miami, Florida. In appreciation he said “From the bottom of my heart I say thank you to Miami-Dade, country office of the Mayor and the county commissioners for honoring me as a distinguished visitor to the city of Miami, Florida. You have just given me a key to more success in life. He therefore encouraged all to believe if themselves if the world believes in them.

## Legacy

His performance alongside fellow little person actor Osita Iheme in the 2002 film Aki na Ukwa is still widely spoken of and the duo especially Osita's character has been trending through memes since 2019 in Twitter and other social media platforms globally. Osita is listed as one of the richest actors in Nigeria. Chinedu praises Kasvid the late film producer for investing in him and Osita.

## Filmography

| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 2002 | Aki na ukwa | Aki | with Osita Iheme |
| 2002 | Spanner: The Humble Servant | Spanner | with Nkem Owoh |
| 2002 | Okwu na uka | | with Osita Iheme & Patience Ozokwor |
| 2002 | Aka Gum | Chisom | with Osita Iheme |
| 2003 | The Tom and Jerry | Tom | with Osita Iheme |
| 2003 | The Catechist | | with John Okafor |
| 2003 | Show Bobo: The American Boys | Kizzito | with Osita Iheme |
| 2003 | School Dropouts | Ikenna | with Osita Iheme |
| 2003 | Pipiro | | with Osita Iheme |
| 2003 | Onunaeyi: Seeds of Bondage | | with Pete Edochie, Osita Iheme, Patience Ozokwor & Clem Ohameze |
| 2003 | Lagos Boys | | with Osita Iheme |
| 2003 | Family Crisis | | |
| 2003 | Charge & Bail | Uzodinma | with Osita Iheme |
| 2003 | Back from America | | with Rita Dominic |
| 2003 | I'm in Love | Gabriel | with Osita Iheme |
| 2003 | Local Champion | | with Osita Iheme |
| 2003 | Akpu-Nku | | |
| 2003 | 2 Rats | | with Osita Iheme, Patience Ozokwor and Amaechi Muonagor |
| 2003 | Nwa Teacher | Jaja | with Osita Iheme |
| 2004 | Across the Niger | | with Pete Edochie, Kanayo O. Kanayo & Ramsey Nouah |
| 2004 | Big Daddies | | with Osita Iheme |
| 2004 | Igbo Made | Doctor Micah | |
| 2004 | Not by Height | | with Osita Iheme |
| 2004 | Spanner Goes to Jail | Spanner | with Nkem Owoh |
| 2004 | Spanner in Battle of Supremacy | Spanner | with Nkem Owoh |
| 2004 | Sunday School Children | | with Osita Iheme |
| 2005 | Village Boys | | with Osita Iheme |
| 2005 | Spoiler | Peter | with Osita Iheme |
| 2005 | Secret Adventure | | with Osita Iheme |
| 2005 | Reggae Boys | | with Osita Iheme |
| 2005 | One Good Turn | | with Osita Iheme |
| 2005 | I Think Twice | Ike | with Osita Iheme |
| 2005 | Final World Cup | | with Osita Iheme |
| 2005 | Colours of Emotion | Ebony | with Osita Iheme |
| 2006 | African Tallest Men | | with Osita Iheme |
| 2006 | Young Masters | | with Osita Iheme |
| 2006 | Winning Your Love | | with Osita Iheme & Patience Ozokwor |
| 2006 | 'U' General | | with Osita Iheme & Patience Ozokwor |
| 2006 | Sweet Money | | with Osita Iheme |
| 2006 | Royal Messengers | | with Osita Iheme |
| 2006 | Magic Cap | Aba | with Osita Iheme |
| 2006 | Last Challenge | | with Kanayo O. Kanayo & Osita Iheme |
| 2006 | Kadura | | with Osita Iheme |
| 2006 | Jadon | Jack | with Osita Iheme |
| 2006 | Games Men Play | | with Chioma Chukwuka, Kate Henshaw-Nuttal, Ini Edo, Mike Ezuruonye & Jim Iyke |
| 2006 | Criminal Law | Hippo | with Osita Iheme |
| 2006 | Brain Masters | Chima | with Osita Iheme |
| 2006 | Brain Box | | with Osita Iheme, Kanayo O. Kanayo & Sam Loco Efe |
| 2006 | Boys from Holland | Lincoln | with Osita Iheme |
| 2006 | Blessed Son | | with Osita Iheme |
| 2006 | Cat & Rat | Ogbu | with Osita Iheme |
| 2007 | Thunder Storm | | with Osita Iheme |
| 2007 | Stubborn Flies | Angel | with Osita Iheme |
| 2007 | Spirit of a Prophet | | with Osita Iheme & Clem Ohameze |
| 2007 | Powerful Civilian | Richie | with Osita Iheme & Victor Osuagwu |
| 2007 | Power as of Old | Katanga | with Osita Iheme & Clem Ohameze |
| 2007 | Escape to Destiny | | with Osita Iheme |
| 2007 | Cain & Abel | | with Osita Iheme |
| 2007 | Village Destroyers | Azu | with Osita Iheme and Kenneth Okonkwo |
| 2008 | Daddy Must Obey | Aki | with Osita Iheme |
| 2008 | Intelligent Students | Pererer | with Osita Iheme and Sam Loco Efe |
| 2008 | Markus D Millionaire | | with Osita Iheme |
| 2009 | Onye Obioma | | with Osita Iheme |
| 2010 | Loyal Enemies | Shedrack | with Osita Iheme and Van Vicker |
| 2011 | Ben Ten | | with Osita Iheme |
| 2011 | Love for the Kids | | followed by Another Love; with Osita Iheme |
| 2011 | Another Love | | sequel to Love for the Kids; with Osita Iheme |
| 2011 | Yellow Sisi | | with Osita Iheme |
| 2012 | Village Rascals | Aki | with Osita Iheme |
| 2013 | The Fighter | | with Osita Iheme and Funke Akindele |
| 2013 | Terrible Twos | | with Osita Iheme |
| 2015 | Two Sons of Ali | | with Osita Iheme |
| 2015 | The First Lady | Small Kenechi | With Omoni Oboli, Alexx Ekubo, Joseph Benjamin |
| 2016 | The Twin Sisters | | with Osita Iheme |
| 2018 | Too Much Money | | with Osita Iheme |
| 2018 | Lara and the Beat | Big Chi | With Ademola Adedoyin, Chioma Chukwuka Akpotha, Kemi Lala Akindoju |
| 2020 | Dear Affy | Street Child | With Toyin Abraham, Seilat Adebowale, Bimbo Ademoye |
| 2021 | Aki and Pawpaw | Aki | with Osita Iheme |
| unknown | House Boys for Sale | | with Patience Ozokwor and Osita Iheme |
| 2021 | The Ghost and the Tout Too | Chief Aki | With Ayomide Abayode, Anthony Abraham, Alexander Abolore |
| 2022 | Palava! | Big T | With Mercy Aigbe, Bisola Aiyeola, Neo Akpofure |
| 2023 | Love Me for Me | Raymond | with Amaechi Anaekwe, Grace Anga |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Film | Result | Ref |
| 2023 | Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards | Best Actor In A Comedy Drama, Movie Or TV Series | Aki & PawPaw | Nominated | |

## Television

* The Johnsons as Efetobore Johnson, produced by Rogers Ofime