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By Paul Williams
Idongesit Akwaowo Reuben, a former staffer of Independent Monitor Newspaper, has been appointed Acting Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of the Institute of Chartered Chemists of Nigeria (ICCON)
ICCON, a parastatal under the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, has the statutory responsibility of regulating the teaching, learning and practice standards of the chemistry profession in Nigeria.
A letter conveying his appointment, dated August 5, 2026 and signed on behalf of the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, by the Director, Food and Drug Services Department, Mrs. Olufowobi‑Yusuf Adeola, 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 1, 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 member at ICCON and rose through the ranks to serve in many capacities across virtually all departments of the institute, including head of 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 ICCON’s regulatory mandates. He has attended various courses and workshops and represented the institute at multiple conferences and fora.
Born on October 23, 1970, Akwaowo—popularly known as “Idongpee”—hails from Onna Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. He attended the prestigious Hope Waddell Training Institution in Calabar, Cross River State.
He studied Pure and Applied Chemistry at the University of Calabar and graduated in 1990 with a Second Class Upper Division, winning Prof. D. U. Ekong’s prize for overall best student. He later earned a master’s degree in Organic Chemistry from the University of Ibadan in 1998.
After graduation, Akwaowo served as a chemistry teacher. He then worked in the media industry as a senior cartoonist with the Rivers State Newspaper Corporation, publishers of The Tide (1993–1997), using the pen name “IdongPEE.”
He was later 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 Executive Editor with National Network Newspaper, Port Harcourt, in 2004.
Akwaowo is a Chartered Chemist and belongs to several professional bodies, including the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM), and, most recently, the Chemical Society of Nigeria (CSN).
Until his appointment, he was Director, Scientific at the institute and served as Coordinator, Zonal Offices of ICCON.
