AI Won’t Replace Scrum Masters — Amen Aimiuwu

As artificial intelligence continues to evolve at breakneck speed, reshaping industries and redefining roles, Nigerian tech educator and Agile advocate Amen Aimiuwu is issuing a powerful reminder: Scrum Masters aren’t going anywhere.

“AI is smart, no doubt. But it doesn’t feel. It doesn’t listen between the lines,” Aimiuwu said. “Scrum Masters are more than facilitators, we are emotional barometers. We sense team dynamics in real time, something no machine can truly replicate.”

Aimiuwu, founder and lead trainer at Scrum Flex, has helped hundreds of professionals especially non-technical individuals transition into the tech industry through Agile training. Her teaching style, which blends humor, cultural storytelling, and practical insights, has earned her a devoted following under her online alias DawtaOfEmotan.

With roots in science, banking, business, and digital delivery, she brings a uniquely human-centered perspective to the fast-paced world of tech.

“People think tech is all code, but leadership, empathy, and collaboration are just as critical,” she said. “Scrum Masters don’t just follow a framework , we coach, we mediate, we listen, we adapt.”

When asked whether AI might eventually assume these responsibilities, she didn’t hesitate.

“AI can help with reporting and process automation, sure. But AI doesn’t recognize when someone is silently overwhelmed. It won’t pick up on that hesitant tone in a stand-up meeting or notice when a team is burning out,” she explained. “That’s where we come in. That’s human intelligence and it’s priceless.”

Aimiuwu often uses culturally grounded analogies to make Agile relatable, comparing Scrum roles to familiar figures in healthcare and Nollywood filmmaking.

“In a hospital, the doctor writes the treatment plan , that’s your Product Owner. The nurse ensures that care is given effectively , that’s the Scrum Master,” she said. “Take out the nurse, and the plan falls apart.”

“And look at Nollywood. Scenes, scripts, takes those are just Sprints, Backlogs, and Retrospectives by another name. The director, though not acting, is the glue. That’s us. Scrum Masters are the directors of progress.”

Beyond metaphors, Aimiuwu is grounded in practicality. She believes Scrum will only become more vital in an AI-enhanced future.

“The future of work isn’t just about machines,” she said. “It’s about humans who can use those machines wisely and work well with others.”

She urges aspiring tech professionals to embrace Scrum as a gateway.

“You don’t need to be a coder to be impactful in tech,” she said. “You need to be a great communicator, a coach, a protector of team morale. That’s the power of the Scrum Master.”

When a mentor once asked if she feared AI taking over, Aimiuwu had a simple response:

“AI can optimize, but it can’t empathize. It can forecast velocity, but it can’t build trust. That’s not something you can automate and that’s why we’re still needed.”

To those preparing for the future, she offers this advice: “Study the Scrum Guide. Get mentored. Join communities. And most importantly, learn how to add value alongside AI — not against it.”

And as for the future?

“No award-winning Nollywood film was ever made without a director holding the vision together. That’s who we are. And that’s why AI won’t replace us.”

As artificial intelligence continues to evolve at breakneck speed, reshaping industries and redefining roles, Nigerian tech educator and Agile advocate Amen Aimiuwu is issuing a powerful reminder: Scrum Masters aren’t going anywhere.

“AI is smart, no doubt. But it doesn’t feel. It doesn’t listen between the lines,” Aimiuwu said. “Scrum Masters are more than facilitators, we are emotional barometers. We sense team dynamics in real time, something no machine can truly replicate.”

Aimiuwu, founder and lead trainer at Scrum Flex, has helped hundreds of professionals especially non-technical individuals transition into the tech industry through Agile training. Her teaching style, which blends humor, cultural storytelling, and practical insights, has earned her a devoted following under her online alias DawtaOfEmotan.

With roots in science, banking, business, and digital delivery, she brings a uniquely human-centered perspective to the fast-paced world of tech.

“People think tech is all code, but leadership, empathy, and collaboration are just as critical,” she said. “Scrum Masters don’t just follow a framework , we coach, we mediate, we listen, we adapt.”

When asked whether AI might eventually assume these responsibilities, she didn’t hesitate.

“AI can help with reporting and process automation, sure. But AI doesn’t recognize when someone is silently overwhelmed. It won’t pick up on that hesitant tone in a stand-up meeting or notice when a team is burning out,” she explained. “That’s where we come in. That’s human intelligence and it’s priceless.”

Aimiuwu often uses culturally grounded analogies to make Agile relatable, comparing Scrum roles to familiar figures in healthcare and Nollywood filmmaking.

“In a hospital, the doctor writes the treatment plan , that’s your Product Owner. The nurse ensures that care is given effectively , that’s the Scrum Master,” she said. “Take out the nurse, and the plan falls apart.”

“And look at Nollywood. Scenes, scripts, takes those are just Sprints, Backlogs, and Retrospectives by another name. The director, though not acting, is the glue. That’s us. Scrum Masters are the directors of progress.”

Beyond metaphors, Aimiuwu is grounded in practicality. She believes Scrum will only become more vital in an AI-enhanced future.

“The future of work isn’t just about machines,” she said. “It’s about humans who can use those machines wisely and work well with others.”

She urges aspiring tech professionals to embrace Scrum as a gateway.

“You don’t need to be a coder to be impactful in tech,” she said. “You need to be a great communicator, a coach, a protector of team morale. That’s the power of the Scrum Master.”

When a mentor once asked if she feared AI taking over, Aimiuwu had a simple response:

“AI can optimize, but it can’t empathize. It can forecast velocity, but it can’t build trust. That’s not something you can automate and that’s why we’re still needed.”

To those preparing for the future, she offers this advice: “Study the Scrum Guide. Get mentored. Join communities. And most importantly, learn how to add value alongside AI — not against it.”

And as for the future?

“No award-winning Nollywood film was ever made without a director holding the vision together. That’s who we are. And that’s why AI won’t replace us.”