By Ozioruva Aliu

BENIN CITY – FORMER Chief Whip of the Senate, Sir Rowland Owie has built and donated a grotto to St. Stephen Catholic church in Egbeta community, in Ovia North East local government area of Edo state, in honour of his late wife, Lady Helen Owie.

At the event, the Archbishop of Benin Diocese, Augustine Akubeze commended Owie for his generosity and urged the parishioners to make good use of the fa said, ” for the parishioners, you have this grotto now. You will come here always to present your petitions to Our Lady.

“Our Lady will hear your prayers and grant your requests. But, you have to confess before she will do that. So, if you have any difficulties and challenges. There is a blessed sacrament in the church and grotto to tell our lady what you have told the Lord. Then your problems are solved .

“We thank Senator Roland Owie for this grotto gift. So, ask God to bless him and his family, and grant his late wife eternal rest, and to all of you that are here the grace of benefiting from this grotto edifice through Christ Our Lord, amen,” the man of God added.

On his part, Owie said his daughter was sick but was healed after Holy Mary appeared to him and told him his daughter would be well just as he narrated that he was pulled out various occultic groups he once belonged.

He narrated, “one night the blessed Virgin Mary came and called my name and told me that my daughter will walk again. The Virgin Mary also gave me condition that if my daughter walk again, that I have to assure Her that I will serve the Lord all through my life.

“One early morning my daughter started walking. Since that day I vowed to serve God. Me that will see church before I will turn my face. And I was captured by the Virgin Mary of Jesus Christ.

“Since then the blessed Virgin Mary of Jesus Christ has been wonderful in my life. When you have her, you have everything. That is why I say it all women are to copy blessed Virgin Mary and take care of their home.”

On his late wife, he said “My wife is now in the mortuary. She brought me out from the street and brought peace into my life and ensure I was converted me to Christ. She has not one day give me tension. So that is what make me to build for God. I have been building for God before now,” Senator Owie said.

According to the Parish Priest Rev. Father Augustine Obazee they are glad to receive the grotto edifice built for them and thanked Senator Owie for his generosity.

“Also on behalf of the parishioners of St. Stephen Catholic church, Egbeta, I thank Senator Roland Owie for this act of generosity for building a grotto to the parishioners. As you can see they are indeed very happy and grateful”

For his daughter, Mrs Ekinadose Margaret Owie-Ogbewi, the grotto edifice was built in honour of her mother who passed on the 9th of April 2025. She described her late mother as amazing, kind wife and grand-mother.

“Above all we call her sweet mum. With her love, kindness, joy and generosity. She taught us so much and she forever hold a special place in their hearts. We need to celebrate her life, memory, and time.”