Organisations in Nigeria face challenges in delivering products effectively, with industry leaders highlighting weak quality control, workplace stress, and cultural barriers as key issues. Experts warned that the rush for faster outputs and widespread adoption of artificial intelligence could create unsafe systems and overburden teams if not properly managed.
These points were shared at Scrum Day Nigeria 2026 in Lagos, under the theme, ‘Building Better Products—Sooner, Safer and Happier.’
Sam Adesoga, convener, managing partner at ValueHut Consulting, said Scrum, a framework used in software development, allows teams with diverse skills to collaborate and achieve shared goals. He added that organisations often focus on speed, which can come at the expense of quality and employee wellbeing.
According to Adesoga, the objective should be to strike a balance where teams can deliver quickly without compromising product integrity or staff welfare. He noted that adoption in Africa remains slower than in the United Kingdom, the United States and Europe. He attributed the gap partly to workplace hierarchies, which may limit junior staff from raising concerns. He said these challenges can be overcome with practitioners who understand how to tailor the framework to local conditions.
On trends shaping product development, Adesoga highlighted artificial intelligence. He cautioned that while AI can speed up processes, it should be integrated responsibly to avoid overloading teams or producing unsafe outcomes.
Jeremiah Odey, principal product owner, Gopaddi, said planning alone is not enough for sustained business success. “Organisations need systems that allow repeatable execution,” he said. He added that relying solely on plans can give the impression of success in the short term while failing to secure long-term results.
Odey also pointed to AI as a growing influence, noting the rise of systems capable of performing tasks across multiple stages of product development. While concerns about job displacement exist, he said his organisation retains its workforce and uses AI to enhance productivity rather than replace employees.
Bukola Ajayi, general manager of Architecture and Engineering, MTN Nigeria, said leadership support is vital for successful transformation. She explained that Scrum adoption improved collaboration between business and technology teams and reduced time to market, while early setbacks offered lessons that strengthened later performance.
Dolapo Otegbayi, principal consultant at DKO Consulting, said innovation is shaped by real-world constraints, including cost, risk, consumer behaviour and scalability. She warned that assumptions about markets, rather than validated insights, can result in products that fail despite internal optimism.
Abimbola Babalola, Agile Solutions Practice Centre Head at Sterling Bank Plc, stressed that quality should be embedded throughout the development lifecycle. “Quality thinking is a mindset that must be embraced collectively,” he said. He added that team members must continuously assess whether features meet user needs and that constructive disagreement can drive better outcomes when managed effectively.
Babalola concluded that quality assurance goes beyond testing; it involves ensuring that products deliver value and align with the needs of users. He emphasised that sustainable product development depends on combining disciplined processes with a culture that encourages continuous evaluation and improvement.
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