‘I Was Born Normal But Then I Stopped Growing’ – Osita Iheme (Pawpaw) Shares Sad Story For The First Time

Nigerian actor Osita Iheme Pawpaw has told the story of his life and why he’s a midget in an exclusive interview with Entertainment Express.

According to Osita Iheme, known widely as Pawpaw, he was born just like a normal baby, but for some strange reasons, he stopped growing at a point in time.

In his own world;

“I was born normal but then stopped growing. I was born in the early 80s. I mark my birth every 20th of February. I was a normal baby when I was born. I can’t say that this was when I stopped growing but I just grew up to find myself like this.

I can’t question God but I keep working hard to become somebody in life. I lost my father at an early age under mysterious circumstances. With my Daddy I know my academic ambitions would have been realised up to PhD level and so many other things I wanted to do if he were alive today.

It really saddens my heart though. Recalling the sad event leading to the untimely death of my dear father, I was very young then. I can’t really say much about him because I was still a baby when he passed on.

From what I learnt, he was a trader who travels a lot and was into merchandising. He made sure that his children were well brought up. He raised us with a good moral upbringing and the fear of God. He was that kind of father. He was a tall man.

I just grew up to find myself like this. I just found myself like this and I can’t question God but I keep working hard to become somebody in life. Definitely, my mother must have been worried about my growth but what can she do? It has happened and she had to accept the situation the way it was.

We are five children in the family including a girl and four boys. I am the last born. Two of my siblings are based in Europe, while the other two are importers. The only lady is working with an oil company.

Raised in Aba: My mother was very hardworking and determined. When I lost my father, she raised us alone. She single-handedly took care of everybody like a man would.She did everything to make sure that I become something in life and I thank God today that she is not disappointed.

She is dedicated and hardworking. We were young when our father left us but she ensured that we didn’t feel his absence so much. She was just a trader. My childhood was rough. Like I said earlier, I lost my dad at a young age.

The kind of environment where I grew up, kids were expected to be up and doing and become survivors. Being streetwise in Aba prepared me for a great life ahead. The kind of orientation I got from that phase of my life taught me that even when there is no job employment, there are a lot of things one can lay one’s hand on and touch good money at the end of the day.

If I can survive in Aba, then I can survive anywhere else. I schooled in Aba at College Primary School and National High School. I am currently in year one studying Computer Science at the University of Lagos (UNILAG).

I am in school now because if I had gotten the backing I wanted as a kid, I would have pursued my education up to the level of Ph.D. I was supposed to study Law; it is one course of study I love so much. Of course, I have played the role of a Lawyer in Criminal Law.”

Source: Kingaziz.com