Rhoda Ngozi Atulobi

Rhoda Ngozi Atulobi was the second child and second daughter of the late Chief Dan Atulobi and Susanna Nwangaji Atulobi in Osusu, Isiala-Ngwa Local Government Area, in Abia State, Nigeria. Because of her love of yams, she was fondly nicknamed Adaji by her father. She was also affectionately known to many as Da Rhoda.

From an early age, Da Rhoda had a deep love of adventure and a strong thirst for learning. She graduated from St. Peter’s Anglican School, Amaoji, in 1957, and soon after moved to Urua Akpan to begin midwifery training at St. Mary’s Hospital in the Ikot Ekpene district in present-day Akwa Ibom State. Upon earning her midwifery certificate in 1960, she remained at St. Mary’s as a practicing midwife until the opportunity arose to further her education abroad.

In 1964, Da Rhoda travelled to Germany, arriving in the town of Quedlinburg to begin her nursing studies which she completed in 1966. She went on to train as a public health and social welfare officer in Weimar, successfully completing the program in 1967. By March 1968, she was working in the men’s surgical ward of St. Markus-Stift hospital in Bad Godesberg. She later joined the University Hospital of Cologne, where she worked until 1970.

She moved to Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in 1972, but did not stay long, because the very next year she was on a plane to reunite with her brothers, Dr. Daniel Atulobi and Jonathan Atulobi, in the United States. She happened to leave just three weeks before mandatory French lessons were set to begin (French fluency was and still is required to work in Montreal).

After amassing both work and life experiences in Germany and Canada, Da Rhoda made the United States her final home. She began her career at Sibley Memorial Hospital in 1975, working in the emergency department. True to her love of learning, she also took university courses during the early years of her career, earning a Bachelor’s of Business Administration at the University of the District of Columbia in 1987. In the early 1990s, she became part of the pioneering team that established the Infusion Center and later went on to establish the Pain Management Center, where she faithfully served until her retirement in 2010.

A devoted woman of faith, Da Rhoda loved the Lord and strove to walk faithfully with Him throughout her life. Following her retirement, she was an enthusiastic volunteer at the Church of the Living God for years, serving until her physical health no longer permitted her to do so.

Though often perceived as quiet and reserved, Da Rhoda was a woman of depth, discipline, and distinct passions. She had an exceptional green thumb, cultivating flowers such as sunflowers and tulips, along with an abundance of vegetables such as squash, cucumber, zucchini, watermelon, bell peppers, tomatoes, okra, and more. She was an avid runner—later a dedicated walker—and remained committed to staying active as long as her health allowed.

She was very mindful about nutrition, preferring whole and plant-based foods. However, she loved cooking for other people, even if it meant modifying her diet to accommodate others, just to see the joy in the eyes of those she prepared meals for.

Da Rhoda had a refined sense of style and elegance. She absolutely loved fashion, jewelry, and the finer things in life. She often shopped at high-end department stores in both downtown DC and Friendship Heights, such as Garfinckel’s, Lord & Taylor, Neiman Marcus, and Saks Fifth Avenue. She believed that it was more important to find that one outfit or one pair of shoes that fit well and would last a long time than to purchase ten outfits that would soon fall apart.

Rhoda Ngozi Atulobi is survived by her brother, Dr. Daniel Atulobi; her sisters-in-law, Ego Atulobi and Ngozi Atulobi; and her niece, Oluchi Atulobi. She was preceded in death by her brothers, Jonathan Atulobi and Blessing Atulobi, and her sisters, Mgboro Onwukwe (née Atulobi), Felicia Atulobi, and Cecilia (Nne) Atulobi.

Her life was one of service, faith, quiet strength, and enduring grace. May her gentle soul find rest in the eternal bosom of God Almighty.