Organisations in Nigeria face significant challenges in delivering products effectively. Industry leaders have highlighted weak quality control, workplace stress, and cultural barriers as key issues. These challenges have been underscored by experts at Scrum Day Nigeria 2026, a conference held at Lagos Oriental Hotel. The event, organised by ValueHut Consulting in partnership with MTN, brought together industry stakeholders to discuss the theme 'Building Better Products—Sooner, Safer and Happier.'
Experts warned that the rush for faster outputs and the widespread adoption of artificial intelligence could create unsafe systems and overburden teams if not properly managed. According to Sam Adesoga, managing partner at ValueHut Consulting, Scrum, a framework used in software development, allows teams with diverse skills to collaborate and achieve shared goals. However, organisations often focus on speed, which can come at the expense of quality and employee wellbeing.
Adesoga noted that the objective should be to strike a balance where teams can deliver quickly without compromising product integrity or staff welfare. He attributed the slower adoption of Scrum in Africa, particularly in Nigeria, to workplace hierarchies that may limit junior staff from raising concerns. Experts highlighted the importance of responsible AI integration to avoid overloading teams or producing unsafe outcomes.
The Scrum Day Nigeria conference has shed light on the pressing challenges faced by organisations in Nigeria. The emphasis on speed over quality and employee wellbeing is a worrying trend that needs to be addressed. The adoption of artificial intelligence, while promising, must be done responsibly to avoid overburdening teams or producing unsafe outcomes. MTN's leadership support for Scrum adoption is a step in the right direction, but more needs to be done to ensure that quality is embedded throughout the development lifecycle. As experts have noted, quality thinking is a mindset that must be collectively embraced, and organisations must strive to combine disciplined processes with a culture that encourages continuous evaluation and improvement.
