The Franco-Nigerian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has announced the appointment of Olawale Rotimi Opeyemi, Founder and Group Chief Executive Officer of JR Farms Group, as the inaugural President of the France-Nigeria Agribusiness Club. Mr. Olawale was appointed by unanimous vote of the Club’s founding stakeholders and will serve a two-year term, with the option of renewal.
The France-Nigeria Agribusiness Club was officially unveiled by the Consul General of France in Lagos, Laurent FAVIER on July 9, 2026, during the inaugural edition of the France-Nigeria Agribusiness Series. Established as a special purpose vehicle operating under the membership of the FNCCI, the Club will serve as a dedicated platform for advancing collaboration between France and Nigeria across agribusiness and the wider agrifood value chain, working in close alignment with the French Embassy’s Regional Economic Department, Business France, and the Chamber to deliver mutual value for both nations.
Announcing the appointment, Moses UMORU, Director General of the FNCCI, confirmed that the decision followed a formal vote among the Club’s founding partners, including the leadership of the FNCCI, Business France, and the French Embassy’s Regional Economic Department who endorsed Mr. Olawale for the role, citing JR Farms Group’s standing as a leading Franco-Nigerian agribusiness success story and a fitting symbol of the Club’s mission.
Rachid Benlafquih, Regional Agriculture Counsellor for Nigeria, Ghana and Cameroon at the French Embassy, noted that JR Farms Group had been identified early in the Club’s formation as a natural anchor for its leadership, given its track record as a Nigerian-French agribusiness. Maxime Bieliaeff, Country Director for Nigeria at Business France, welcomed the appointment and reaffirmed his organization’s commitment to supporting the Club’s future activities.
“I will use this opportunity to further strengthen collaboration between France and Nigeria in agribusiness and agrifood — not by duplicating existing efforts, but by aligning with the strategy, interests, and goals of the Embassy, Business France, and the Chamber to deliver mutual value for both nations,” said Mr. Olawale. “Let’s get to work.”
Olawale, Rotimi Opeyemi is the Founder and Group Chief Executive Officer of JR Farms Group, a multinational agribusiness with operations in Nigeria, France, Rwanda, Zambia and Benin, with recent expansion into Liberia’s coffee sector through a $60 million dollar public-private partnership.
He brings about 15 years of experience in Africa’s agrifood sector and around seven years working alongside French partners on agricultural initiatives in Nigeria and other anglophone African countries. Olawale holds a first degree and first Masters from University of Ilorin, and Executive Certificate in Agribusiness from Lagos Business School.
In various capacities, Olawale has addressed global audience on platforms such as International Labour Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN, Harvard, MIT Sloan, London School of Economics, African Development Bank among others. He has received several global recognitions and featured on global media platforms such as CNBC Captains of Industry, a global platform that hosts renowned business leaders.
The France-Nigeria Agribusiness Club is a special purpose vehicle operating under the membership of the Franco-Nigerian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, established to coordinate and grow agribusiness and agrifood collaboration between France and Nigeria.
The Club works alongside the French Embassy in Nigeria, Business France, and the wider Chamber membership to connect stakeholders, share expertise and support investment across the agricultural value chain.
