By Luka Zang

When many people hear the words refugee or internally displaced person, they think of loss, dependency and vulnerability. Those realities exist, but they are not the whole story.
Displacement may force people from their homes, but it does not erase their talent. It does not diminish their ambition. It does not strip away their ability to innovate, build businesses, solve problems or lead communities.
I know this because I have lived it.

Like millions of displaced people in Nigeria and across the world, my life was disrupted by circumstances beyond my control. Yet I refused to allow displacement to define my future. Instead, it strengthened my resolve to create opportunities—not only for myself but for others facing similar challenges.

Today, I lead Zang Global, an enterprise that manufactures mobile accessories while transforming electronic waste into economic opportunity. Our work combines environmental sustainability with job creation by training young people, particularly displaced youth, in e-waste recycling, renewable energy technologies, green manufacturing and entrepreneurship.
Every day, I witness what becomes possible when people are given the opportunity to contribute rather than merely survive. This is why I believe we need to fundamentally rethink how we view displaced people.

Across Nigeria and beyond, refugees and internally displaced persons are already making meaningful contributions to society. They are teachers, engineers, healthcare workers, farmers, entrepreneurs, artists, innovators and skilled professionals. Despite enormous barriers, many continue to build businesses, create jobs and support local economies.
Yet public conversations often focus almost exclusively on what displaced people have lost instead of what they have to offer.

That mindset needs to change. Rather than asking, How do we help displaced people survive? we should be asking, How do we unlock the talent they already possess?
Part of the answer lies in recognizing refugee-led and displaced-led organisations as partners in development rather than viewing them solely as beneficiaries of humanitarian assistance.

Those of us who have experienced displacement understand our communities because we live their realities every day. We know where the challenges lie, but we also know where the opportunities exist. That lived experience enables us to design practical, culturally relevant and sustainable solutions while building trust in ways that outsiders often cannot.
It is encouraging that development partners such as the Mastercard Foundation are increasingly recognising the importance of refugee-led leadership by working alongside community organisations to co-create solutions rooted in local realities.

At Zang Global, this philosophy guides everything we do. By providing practical skills in renewable energy, e-waste recycling and entrepreneurship, we are helping displaced young people secure employment, establish businesses and regain economic independence. We see displacement not as the end of someone’s story, but as the beginning of rebuilding lives with dignity, purpose and resilience.

However, organisations led by displaced people cannot drive this transformation alone. Governments have a responsibility to create policies that expand access to education, identity documentation, finance, markets and decent work for displaced populations. The private sector should view refugees and internally displaced persons not simply as aid recipients but as employees, innovators, suppliers, customers and business partners.

Development organisations must continue investing in refugee-led initiatives because local leadership is essential to creating lasting solutions. Communities also have a role to play by fostering inclusion and creating spaces where displaced people can contribute their knowledge, skills and experience.

Beyond the moral imperative, investing in displaced people also makes economic sense.
When talented young people gain access to education, technical skills and employment opportunities, the benefits extend far beyond individual livelihoods. Businesses grow, innovation accelerates, environmental challenges are addressed and communities become more resilient.

Nigeria is home to millions of internally displaced people. Their greatest need is not sympathy; it is opportunity.

Imagine what could happen if every displaced young person had access to quality education, vocational training, entrepreneurship support and meaningful employment. Imagine the businesses they could establish, the jobs they could create, the innovations they could develop and the communities they could help rebuild.

The talent already exists.

As conversations continue beyond this year’s World Refugee Day and its theme, Talent Beyond Borders, I hope we move beyond narratives centred solely on vulnerability. Refugees and internally displaced people should also be recognised for what they already are: entrepreneurs, innovators, problem-solvers, community builders and agents of development.

Talent knows no borders. Human potential cannot be displaced. When we choose to invest in people rather than define them by their circumstances, everyone stands to benefit.

Luka Zang is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Zang Global, an Africa-led enterprise advancing circular economy solutions through e-waste repurposing, renewable energy, sustainable manufacturing and youth employment. Through innovation-driven programmes, the organisation supports vulnerable and displaced young people with skills development and access to economic opportunities. A graduate of the Amahoro Fellowship and the Western Union Foundation Fellowship, Zang was named among Avance Media’s 100 Most Influential Young Nigerians in 2019 for his contributions to innovation and social impact.