The Franco-Nigerian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has appointed the Founder and Group Chief Executive Officer of JR Farms Group, Olawale Rotimi Opeyemi, as the inaugural President of the France-Nigeria Agribusiness Club. He will serve a two-year term, with an option for renewal, following a unanimous vote by the Club’s founding stakeholders.

The appointment follows the official unveiling of the France-Nigeria Agribusiness Club by the Consul General of France in Lagos, Laurent Favier, during the inaugural France-Nigeria Agribusiness Series held on July 9, 2026.

Operating under the FNCCI, the Club is designed to strengthen collaboration between France and Nigeria across the agribusiness and agrifood value chain in partnership with the French Embassy’s Regional Economic Department and Business France.

Announcing the appointment, FNCCI Director-General Moses Umoru said the decision was reached after a formal vote involving the Club’s founding partners, including the FNCCI, Business France and the French Embassy’s Regional Economic Department.

According to him, Opeyemi’s selection reflects JR Farms Group’s position as a successful Franco-Nigerian agribusiness enterprise and aligns with the Club’s mission of fostering stronger agricultural cooperation between both countries.

Regional Agriculture Counsellor for Nigeria, Ghana and Cameroon at the French Embassy, Rachid Benlafquih, said JR Farms Group had been identified early in the Club’s formation as a natural choice for its leadership because of its experience in Franco-Nigerian agribusiness collaboration.

Similarly, Country Director for Nigeria at Business France, Maxime Bieliaeff, welcomed the appointment and reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting the Club’s activities.
Speaking on his appointment, Opeyemi pledged to deepen cooperation between France and Nigeria in agribusiness by aligning the Club’s activities with the strategic objectives of the French Embassy, Business France and the FNCCI.

“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. Let’s get to work,” he said.

Opeyemi leads JR Farms Group, a multinational agribusiness with operations in Nigeria, France, Rwanda, Zambia and Benin, and has recently expanded into Liberia’s coffee sector through a $60 million public-private partnership. He has about 15 years of experience in Africa’s agrifood sector and seven years of collaboration with French partners on agricultural initiatives across Anglophone Africa.

The France-Nigeria Agribusiness Club was established to coordinate investment, promote knowledge sharing and strengthen partnerships across the agricultural value chain between France and Nigeria.