Every elder deserves to age with dignity and belonging.

Lilian Oyama is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Li-Lu Caring Hands Centre, a registered non-governmental organisation dedicated to the protection, dignity, and quality of life of elderly Nigerians. With over eight years of specialised experience in gerontological social work, elder abuse prevention, and community-based care, Ms. Oyama is one of Nigeria's foremost advocates for the rights and wellbeing of older adults.

Ms. Oyama holds a Master of Social Work (MSW) from Rutgers University, New Jersey — one of the United States' leading research institutions in social welfare — and a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) from Seton Hall University, New Jersey. She is additionally a certified Gerontologist, having completed a rigorous one-year programme in the study of aging and elder care. Her academic foundation is further strengthened by a B.Sc. in Banking and Finance from the University of Calabar, Nigeria, equipping her with the institutional and financial management competencies essential to leading a high-impact organisation.

A dual citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the United States of America, Ms. Oyama brings an internationally informed, evidence-based approach to every programme and initiative she leads. Her professional background spans direct clinical service in residential care facilities across New Jersey, elder rights advocacy, programme development, and grassroots community engagement across Cross River State. She is particularly skilled in designing culturally responsive interventions that meet the complex needs of elderly individuals living with social isolation, abuse, developmental disabilities, and dual-diagnosis conditions.

Ms. Oyama established Li-Lu Caring Hands Centre in 2023 in honour of her late mother, Mama Lucy Efu, whose passing became the catalyst for a lifelong professional mission: to ensure that every elderly person in Nigeria receives the dignity, compassion, and care they have earned and deserve.