Rotimi Olawale appointed inaugural president of France-Nigeria agribusiness club

Rotimi Olawale, founder and CEO of JR Farms Group, has been appointed as the inaugural president of the France-Nigeria Agribusiness Club, a special-purpose vehicle established to coordinate and grow agriculture in the country.

In a statement, the Franco-Nigerian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) made the announcement and said Olawale was appointed by unanimous vote of the club’s founding stakeholders and will serve a two-year term with the option of renewal.

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, which endorsed him for the role.

He cited 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 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 organisation’s commitment to supporting the club’s future activities.

Olawale 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.

He holds a first degree and a Master’s from the University of Ilorin, and an Executive Certificate in Agribusiness from Lagos Business School.

In various capacities, Olawale has addressed global audiences on platforms such as the International Labour Organisation, Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN, Harvard, MIT Sloan, London School of Economics, African Development Bank, among others.

He has received several global recognitions and has been featured on global media platforms such as CNBC Captains of Industry, a global platform that hosts renowned business leaders.

Responding to the appointment, Olawale promised to use the opportunity to further strengthen collaboration between Nigeria and France in agribusiness and agrifood.

“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,” he said.