Nigeria’s Jerry Eze leads worshippers in prayer at Manchester United’s Old Trafford

Nigerian pastor Jerry Eze led thousands of worshippers in prayers and worship at Manchester United’s iconic Old Trafford stadium on Saturday during the NSPPD UK Prayer Conference.

The event, organised by Eze’s Streams of Joy International, attracted Christians from different parts of the United Kingdom and beyond for a day of prayer, worship and fellowship.

Old Trafford, the 74,000-capacity home ground of Manchester United, took on a different atmosphere as worshippers gathered inside the stadium for the religious programme.

Free event draws strong interest

Although attendance at the conference was free, prospective participants were required to register ahead of the event because of the venue’s limited capacity.

Interest in the gathering reportedly increased in the days leading up to the conference, with social media users claiming that available spaces had been filled.

Some prospective attendees also turned to platforms such as TikTok in search of spare tickets or available spaces to attend the event.

The high level of interest highlighted the reach of the NSPPD prayer programme among Nigerian and other Christian communities in the United Kingdom.

Nigerian gospel ministers join Eze

Several prominent Nigerian gospel ministers joined Eze for the conference, contributing to the prayers and worship sessions.

Among those featured at the event were gospel singers Sunmisola Agbebi, Mercy Chinwo, Dunsin Oyekan and Kaestrings.

The gathering combined prayer, worship and musical performances as participants sought spiritual fellowship and encouragement.

The event also offered a striking contrast to the usual sporting activities associated with Old Trafford, which was temporarily transformed from a football stadium into a venue for Christian worship.

The conference took place as league football paused for international fixtures, allowing the famous Manchester venue to host the large-scale religious gathering.