The Federal Government has appointed Chemist Akwaowo Idongesit Reuben as Acting Registrar of the Institute of Chartered Chemists of Nigeria (ICCON), a parastatal of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, saddled with the statutorily responsibility of regulating the teaching, learning and standard practice of the chemistry profession in Nigeria.

A letter conveying his appointment, dated August 5, 2026 and signed on behalf of the Honourable Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako by the Director, Food and Drug Services Department, Mrs. Olufowobi-Yusuf Adeola, mni, states that his appointment followed the retirement of the former Registrar/CEO of the Institute on May 31, 2026.

 

The letter reads in part “I am directed by the Honourable Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare to notify you of your appointment as Acting Registrar/CEO of the Institute of Chartered Chemists of Nigeria with effect from June 1st, 2026”.

 

The newly appointed Acting Registrar, who has since assumed office after receiving handover notes from his predecessor, Chemist Jwalshik Wilford joined the Federal Civil Service in 2005 as a pioneer staff with ICCON and rose through the ranks to serve in many capacities transcending virtually all departments in the Institute including HOD, Administration/Accounts & Finance.

 

Recently, he served as pioneer team lead and the Institute’s representative in the National Chemical Personnel Audit exercise which forms part of the Institute’s regulatory mandates. He has attended various courses and workshops and represented the Institute at various conferences and fora.

 

Born on October 23, 1970, Chemist Akwaowo Idongesit Reuben who hails from Onna Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, attended the prestigious Hope Waddell Training Institution in Calabar, Cross River State.

 

He studied Pure and Applied Chemistry at University of Calabar and graduated in 1990 with Second Class Upper Division where he won Prof. D. U. Ekong’s prize for the overall best student award. He later bagged a master’s degree in Organic Chemistry from the University of Ibadan in 1998.

 

Upon graduation, Chemist Akwaowo served as a Chemistry teacher. He thereafter had his earlier stint in the media industry as a Senior Cartoonist with the Rivers State Newspaper Cooperation, publishers of “The Tide Newspapers” (1993-1997) with the pen name “IdongPEE”.

 

He was later appointed as Assistant Science Editor with South-South Express Newspapers (1999-2001). He also served as Sports Editor with The Mirror; Chief Cartoonist with Independent Monitor and rose to the position of Executive Editor with National Network Newspaper, Port Harcourt in 2004.

 

Akwaowo is a Chartered Chemist and belongs to several professional bodies including Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM), and most recently, Chemical Society of Nigeria (CSN).

 

Until his appointment, he was Director, Scientific with the Institute and served as Coordinator, Zonal Offices of ICCON.