Idongesit Appointed Acting Registrar Of ICCON

The federal government has appointed Akwaowo Idongesit Reuben as the acting registrar of the Institute of Chartered Chemists of Nigeria (ICCON).

ICCON is a parastatal under the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, statutorily mandated to regulate the teaching, learning and standard practice of the chemistry profession in Nigeria.

A letter conveying his appointment, signed on behalf of the minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, by the director of Food and Drug Services Department, Mrs Olufowobi-Yusuf Adeola, stated that the appointment followed the retirement of the former registrar/CEO on May 31, 2026.

The letter reads in part: “I am directed by the 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.”

Akwaowo has since assumed office after receiving handover notes from his predecessor, Jwalshik Wilford.
He joined the Federal Civil Service in 2005 as a pioneer staff member of ICCON and rose through the ranks, serving in capacities spanning virtually all departments of the institute, including head of Administration, Accounts and Finance.

Most recently, he served as pioneer team lead and the Institute’s representative in the National Chemical Personnel Audit exercise—a key component of ICCON’s regulatory mandate. He has attended numerous courses and workshops and represented the Institute at various conferences and fora.

Born on October 23, 1970, Chemist Akwaowo Idongesit Reuben hails from Onna Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. He attended the prestigious Hope Waddell Training Institution in Calabar, Cross River State, before studying Pure and Applied Chemistry at the University of Calabar, where he graduated in 1990 with a Second Class Upper Division. He was also awarded the Prof. D. U. Ekong Prize for the overall best student. He later obtained a master’s degree in Organic Chemistry from the University of Ibadan in 1998.

Before joining ICCON, he worked as a Chemistry teacher and later ventured into the media industry, serving as a Senior Cartoonist with the Rivers State Newspaper Corporation, publishers of The Tide Newspapers (1993–1997), under the pen name “IdongPEE.” He was subsequently appointed 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 a member of several professional bodies, including the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM), and the Chemical Society of Nigeria (CSN).

Until his appointment, he was Director of Scientific Services at the Institute and served as Coordinator of ICCON’s Zonal Offices.