There’s always a story behind the rise of every super star; the inner battles and the curve balls life throws at them, often forges Stronger Minds and the Winning Mentality.

But grit is perhaps the biggest quality that every habitual champion purposes, something Nkem Akaraiwe is all to familiar with, but it wasn’t always so.

In 2018, the Nine season veteran won her first MVP honor, as she dominated on both ends of the court in what became a successful NWPBL season for First Bank WBC.

Months before her 2018 league triumph, Akaraiwe had a bit part role in Nigeria’s FIBA Women’s World Cup historic, box office performance – reaching the quarter-finals against all odds.

However, the road to what is building a solid career was bumpy and almost never happened for the 22 year-old, who recalls a difficult formative period when she almost quit.

Akaraiwe told brila.net that she was bullied as a young player and it got soo bad, she contemplated selling her first basketball shoes and turning her back on everything.

‘The journey started for me in Secondary School and it was really challenging. Back then in secondary school we had this great post player; she was this big and sometimes bullied me. It got to an extent I wanted to sell the new canvas shoes I bought,’ she explained.

I told my cousin I was no longer interested in playing, but he encouraged me. He told me, he doesn’t think the game is for everybody, but insisted on me to keep going. And though it has been challenging, I think it’s been worth it.’