By Destiny Eseaga

THE Federal Government has confirmed the appointment of Mr. Wilford Zungkat Jwalshik as the substantive Registrar/CEO of the Institute of Chartered Chemists of Nigeria, ICCON, making him the third substantive Registrar since inception of the Institute. Until his appointment, Mr. Jwalshik was an Assistant Director and Head of Research at the Federal Capital Territory Water Board.

Born on September 3, 1968 in Bwonpe, Plateau State, Mr. Jwalshik is a product of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, ATBU, Bauchi, graduating with a B. Tech (Hons.) degree in Industrial Chemistry in 1991. He later obtained M.Sc in Analytical Chemistry from University of Abuja in 2002.

He joined the services of Engineering Department, Federal Capital Development Authority, FCDA, Abuja in February, 1993 as Scientific Officer II and was subsequently posted to Federal Capital Territory Water Board. He rose through the ranks to attain the position of Assistant Director/Head, Research in 2013.

Jwalshik has served ICCON as well as the Chemical Society of Nigeria, CSN, in various capacities. These include: Secretary and subsequently Chairman, Abuja Chapter of the CSN (2009-2013 and 2013-2017 respectively); Member, Local Organising Committee, CSN – Federation of African Societies of Chemistry  International Conference held in Abuja (2015); Council Member of CSN 2013 – 2017; Chairman, LOC, sixth ICCON Continuing Professional Development Programme held in Abuja (2014); and Member, ICCON Governing Council (2017), among others.

A chemist with great passion for the chemistry profession, he was awarded the Fellowship of the CSN in 2012 and ICCON in 2018; American Chemical Society (ACS), Chemistry Ambassador in 2015 for promoting chemistry and chemists in the community.

He has served in various committees and has been assigned different responsibilities within the FCT Water Board which include Member, Committee for the production of Operational Manual/Guidelines; Senior Staff Disciplinary Committee as well as resource person for in-house training for Quality Control staff.