JR Farms CEO Olawale heads new France-Nigeria agribusiness SPV
The new France-Nigeria Agribusiness Club, a special-purpose vehicle backed by French state agencies, has appointed JR Farms Group CEO Rotimi Olawale as its first president to coordinate cross-border agricultural investment.
Rotimi Olawale, founder and CEO of JR Farms Group, will lead the newly established France-Nigeria Agribusiness Club as its inaugural president. The special-purpose vehicle was created to coordinate and expand agricultural operations between the two nations. Olawale was selected by unanimous vote of the founding stakeholders for a two-year term, with the option to renew.
The club’s formation is driven by key French institutional players, marking a structured approach to bilateral trade. Founding partners include the Franco-Nigerian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), Business France, and the regional economic department of the French Embassy. Their direct involvement signals a coordinated, state-backed push to organise French commercial interests in Nigeria's agricultural sector.
JR Farms Group serves as the operational anchor for this initiative. Moses Umoru, director general of the FNCCI, cited the company as a leading Franco-Nigerian success story and a fitting symbol of the club’s mission. Rachid Benlafquih, regional agriculture counsellor at the French Embassy, noted that JR Farms was identified early in the club’s formation as a natural fit for leadership due to its established track record.
Maxime Bieliaeff, Business France’s country director for Nigeria, welcomed the appointment and reaffirmed the agency's commitment to supporting the club’s future activities. This institutional backing highlights the commercial weight behind the SPV. For market professionals, the club's establishment represents a formalised, centralised channel for bilateral agribusiness capital and expertise.
Nigeria is actively seeking to diversify its economy away from hydrocarbons, making agricultural development a critical priority for foreign capital. By consolidating cross-border efforts through a dedicated special-purpose vehicle, French and Nigerian stakeholders are looking to streamline market entry and align on targeted sector strategies.
Olawale brings roughly 15 years of experience in Africa's agrifood sector, including seven years working directly with French partners across anglophone African markets. “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.
