Aki and Pawpaw now: All we know about the iconic Nollywood acting duo
Aki and Pawpaw are a famous Nollywood acting duo. They have worked in the Nigerian film industry for over two decades, playing comic roles of siblings and close friends. For years, fans believed the two were siblings because of their short stature and youthful appearances. Where are these Nollywood legends today?
Source: UGC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Key takeaways
- Profile summaries
- Who are Aki and Pawpaw?
- What are the real names of Aki and Pawpaw?
- How old are Aki and Pawpaw?
- What is the age difference between Aki and Pawpaw?
- Where are Aki and Pawpaw from?
- Are Aki and Pawpaw still alive?
- Are Aki and Pawpaw still friends?
- Educational background
- Aki and Pawpaw's movies
- What is Aki and Pawpaw's net worth?
- Who is Chinedu Ikedieze's wife?
- Who are Chinedu Ikedieze's children?
- Who is Osita Iheme's wife?
- What happened to Osita Iheme?
- What medical condition do Aki and Pawpaw have?
- How tall are Aki and Pawpaw?
- Trivia
Key takeaways
- The actors earned their nicknames from their famous 2002 film titled Aki and Pawpaw. Their humorous characters transformed the face of Nollywood and added a unique flavour to the industry.
- Aki's real name is Chinedu Ikedieze, while Pawpaw's real name is Osita Iheme. Pawpaw's other nickname is Ukwa.
- Chinedu Ikedieze was born and raised in Iluoma Uzuakoli, Bende, Abia State, Nigeria. Whereas Osita Iheme comes from the local government of Mbaitolu in Imo State
Profile summaries
Full name | Chinedu Ikedieze | Osita Iheme |
Nickname(s) | Aki | Pawpaw, Ukwa |
Gender | Male | Male |
Date of birth | 12 December 1977 | 20 February 1982 |
Age | 48 years (as of 2025) | 43 years (as of 2025) |
Place of birth | Bende, Abia State, Nigeria | Mbatoli, Imo State, Nigeria |
Current residence | Lagos State, Nigeria | Imo State, Nigeria |
Nationality | Nigerian | Nigerian |
Ethnicity | Igbo | Igbo |
Zodiac sign | Sagittarius | Pisces |
Religion | Christianity | Christianity |
Sexual orientation | Straight | Straight |
Height | 4 ft 11 in (129 cm) | 4 ft 6 in (137 cm) |
Hair colour | Black | Black |
Eye colour | Black | Black |
Marital status | Married | Single |
Spouse | Nneoma Nwaijah | - |
Children | 3 | - |
Father | Michael Ikedieze Ogbonna | Herbert Iheme |
Mother | Mrs Ogbonna | Augustina Iheme |
Alma mater | Institute of Management and Technology (IMT) & New York Film Academy | Lagos State University & Institute of Management and Technology, Enugu |
Profession | Actor and entrepreneur | Actor, author, film producer, & comedian |
Who are Aki and Pawpaw?
Aki and Pawpaw are two famous Nollywood actors who have been inseparable since they started acting. Many people believe they are siblings, but they are not. Aki is also an entrepreneur, and Pawpaw is an author, film producer, and comedian.
What are the real names of Aki and Pawpaw?
Aki's real name is Chinedu Ikedieze, while Pawpaw's real name is Osita Iheme. Pawpaw's other nickname is Ukwa.
How old are Aki and Pawpaw?
Aki and Pawpaw's ages are 48 and 43 as of 2025, respectively. Aki was born on 12 December 1977. Pawpaw was born on 20 February 1982.
What is the age difference between Aki and Pawpaw?
They have an age gap of about four years and two months. Aki's Zodiac sign is Sagittarius, while Pawpaw's Zodiac sign is Pisces.
Source: Original
Where are Aki and Pawpaw from?
Chinedu Ikedieze was born and raised in Iluoma Uzuakoli, Bende, Abia State, Nigeria. Chinedu Ikedieze's parents are Michael Ikedieze Ogbonna and Mrs Ogbonna, and he has a sister named Joyce Chinwe.
Osita Iheme comes from the local government of Mbaitolu in Imo State. His parents are Herbert and Augustina Iheme, and he is the lastborn in a family of five children. Both actors are from the Igbo tribe, and their nationality is Nigerian.
Are Aki and Pawpaw still alive?
Yes, the two famous actors are still alive and pursuing other interests besides acting. Chinedu Ikedieze is an entrepreneur and investor, while Osita Iheme is an author, film producer, and comedian.
Are Aki and Pawpaw still friends?
Yes, Chinedu Ikedieze and Osita Iheme are still friends. They continue to work together on Nollywood films and projects and are known for their on-screen and off-screen chemistry.
During an interview, Aki opened up about his first encounter with Pawpaw and how it paved the way for their unbreakable friendship. A woman at the market would confuse him for Pawpaw.
Whenever I go to the market, I will meet one lady that will say, ehn ehn, you were here yesterday, you remember, you asked me to keep these clothes when Osita will come she will tell him, you came and collected the clothes nah.
He said their connection was destined, owing to the unique circumstances surrounding their lives before the meeting.
Source: Original
Educational background
Chinedu Ikedieze and Osita Iheme graduated from the Institute of Management and Technology, Enugu (IMT). As a child, Chinedu Ikedieze desired to become a lawyer.
After completing his primary and secondary education, he joined IMT, pursuing a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Theatre Arts and a degree in Mass Communication. He enrolled in the prestigious New York Film Academy in 2004.
On the other hand, Osita Iheme obtained his MBA from the same institution. Before his MBA, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from Lagos State University.
Aki and Pawpaw's movies
Chinedu Ikedieze has starred in over 150 films over the past two decades. He began acting in 1998 after completing his education.
Due to his stature and physical appearance, he acted as a child in most of his early films. His breakthrough came in 2002 when he acted as Aki in Aki na Ukwa. Below is a list of some movies in which he has acted.
- Spanner: The Humble Servant as Spanner (2002)
- The Tom and Jerry as Tom (2003)
- Charge & Bail as Uzodinma (2003)
- Nwa Teacher as Jaja (2003)
- Igbo Made as Dr Micah (2004)
- I Think Twice as Ike (2005)
- Colours of Emotion as Ebony (2005)
- Magic Cap as Aba (2006)
- Boys from Holland as Lincoln (2006)
- Stubborn Flies as Angel (2007)
- Intelligent Students as Pererer (2008)
- Daddy Must Obey as Aki (2008)
- Loyal Enemies as Shedrack (2010)
- Village Rascals as Aki (2012)
- The First Lady as Small Kenechi (2015)
- Lara and the Beat as Big Chi (2018)
- Dear Affy as a Street Child (2020)
- Aki and Pawpaw as Aki (2021)
- The Ghost and the Tout Too as Chief Aki (2021)
- Palava! as Big T (2022)
- Love Me for Me as Raymond (2023)
Source: UGC
Osita Oheme began acting in 1998. He also rose to prominence after starring as Pawpaw in Aki na Ukwa in 2002. He has starred in multiple Nollywood productions. They include,
- Aka Gum as Chidi (2002)
- Baby Police as Dada (2003)
- Charge & Bail as Uzochukwu (2003)
- Green Snake as Akpuruka (2003)
- Oke Belgium as Kekere (2003)
- The Tom and Jerry as Jerry (2003)
- Mr. Ibu as Muo (2004)
- Colours of Emotion as Spark (2005)
- I Think Twice as Obinna (2005)
- Power as of Old as Cheche (2007)
- Village Destroyers as Acho (2007)
- Intelligent Students as Santos (2008)
- Loyal Enemies as Meshark (2010)
- The Mirror Boy as Mirror Boy (2011)
- Village Rascals as Popo (2012)
- Double Mama as Arusi (2013)
- Babysitter as Sabinus (2019)
- Fatty and Sons Autos as Aki (2021)
- Christmas in Miami as Raphael (2021)
- Sabinus the Best Man as Don Little (2023)
In addition to acting, the two famous actors have invested in businesses together. They founded Aki and Pawpaw Entertainment and the Aki and Paw Child Care Foundation.
What is Aki and Pawpaw's net worth?
Osita Iheme's net worth is estimated to be about $5.3 million, according to online reports. On the other hand, Chinedu Ikedieze's net worth is estimated at $6 million.
Osita Iheme owns the Resident Hotel in Owerri, Imo State and lives in a house worth an estimated ₦100 million.
Who is richer, Osita Iheme or Chinedu Ikedieze?
Chinedu Ikedieze is richer with a difference of about $700,000. However, both actors are extremely rich, owing to their lucrative Hollywood mansions. As a result, they have amassed high-end mansions, luxury cars and multimillion-dollar endorsement deals.
Who is Chinedu Ikedieze's wife?
Chinedu Ikedieze married fashion designer Nneoma Nwaijah in 2011. They met on the set of a movie shoot in Lagos State, where she was a costume director.
Nwaijah and Chinedu became friends for some time before dating and eventually getting married. After three years of dating, the couple tied the knot.
Who are Chinedu Ikedieze's children?
Chinedu Ikedieze and Nneoma Nwaijah are parents of three. The two welcomed their first child in 2012.
The couple has two daughters and one son. Chinedu Ikedieze's house is in Phase 1 of Omole in Lekki, Lagos State.
Who is Osita Iheme's wife?
The public knows little about Osita Iheme's love life because he keeps much of it private. He is reportedly single.
What happened to Osita Iheme?
A recent false death rumour about Osita Iheme emerged on YouTube on 29 July 2022. The actor has been a victim of several online death hoaxes for years. These rumours are unfounded because he is still alive.
What medical condition do Aki and Pawpaw have?
Aki and Pawpaw both have a medical condition known as dwarfism or stunted growth. This condition affects their height and physical appearance.
Chinedu Ikedieze opened up about his struggles as a child:
I remember the doctor saying, 'Madam, what he has is stunned 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
How tall are Aki and Pawpaw?
Aki's height is 4 ft 11 in or 129 cm, while Pawpaw's height is 4 ft 6 in or 137 cm. Both actors have black hair and eyes.
Trivia
- In 2007, Chinedu Ikedieze received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Africa Movie Academy Awards.
- President Goodluck Jonathan honoured Chinedu Ikedieze with the Order of the Federal Republic.
- Osita Iheme's brother, Prince Iheme, was murdered by gunmen in Owerri, Imo State.
- In 2007, Osita Iheme was given the Lifetime Achievement Award by the African Movie Academy Awards.
- Osita Iheme plans to run for a political office in the future.
- In 2023, Osita Iheme became the ambassador of TAJBank.
Aki and Pawpaw are among the most influential actors in Africa. The two have had successful Nollywood careers that have lasted over two decades.
Legit.ng recently published Mercy Isoyip's biography. Mercy is a Nigerian actress, fashion model, singer, and rapper best known for her roles in films such as Yes to Forever, Bad Boys, and Bridesmaids.
In 2016, Mercy Isoyip made her mark performing in one of her first prominent acting roles on Paige. Since then, she has become an active figure in the Nigerian entertainment scene.
Source: Legit.ng
Cyprine Apindi (Lifestyle writer) Cyprine Apindi is a content creator and educator with over six years of experience. She holds a Diploma in Mass Communication and a Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from Kenyatta University. Cyprine joined Briefly.co.za in mid-2021, covering multiple topics, including finance, entertainment, sports, and lifestyle. In 2023, she finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. She received the 2023 Writer of the Year Award. In 2024, she completed the Google News Initiative course. Email: cyprineapindi@gmail.com
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