1.
GV Ahmadu Bello stadium (2 shots)
0.08

2.
SV School children arriving
0.22

3.
SV Ansar Ud Deen society banner
0.24

4.
SV VIP's seated (3 shots)
0.43

5.
GV Crowd in stadium (2 shots)
0.43

6.
SV Banner
0.45

7.
GV Muslims praying (3 shots)
1.20



Initials RH/2210 RH/MW/PNG/2225



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Thousands of Nigerian Muslims crowded into the big Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna, northern Nigeria, on Saturday (13 March) to celebrate Id-El-Maulud, the birthday of the prophet Mohammed.

It was past of the celebrations of the prophet's birthday held all over the country.

The afternoon of prayer and lectures was precede by a big procession of worshippers and schoolchildren through Kaduna streets to the stadium.

The chairman of the Kaduna local authority, Alhaji Nuhu Bamali, called on the gathering to treat each other as brothers and sisters.

And he urges Muslims all over the country to re - dedicate themselves and adhere to the teaching of Islam.

In a message marking the occasion, the Nigerian Head of State, Lieutenant-General Olusegun Obasanjo, asked Nigerians to re-dedicate themselves to their "fatherland", particularly at a time when the country was going through economic changes.

Saturday was declared a public holiday for the celebrations.

SYNOPSIS: A public holiday was declared in Nigeria on Saturday for Muslims to celebrate Id-Ei-Maulud, the birthday of the prophet Mohammed. In Kaduna, a procession of schoolchildren through the streets of the town preceded the afternoon of prayers and lectures on the teachings of the prophet at the big Asmadu Bello stadium.

The chainman of the Kaduna local authority, Alhaji Nuhu Bamali, called on the gathering to treat each other as brothers and sisters. He urged Muslims all over the country to re-dedicate themselves and adhere to the teaching of Islam.

In a message to mark the occasion, the Nigerian Head of State, Lieutenant-General Olusegun Obsanjo, urged Nigerians to re-dedicate themselves to the service of their "fatherland". He said this was particularly necessary at a time when the country was going through economic changes. He urged Nigerians to guard against forces that might alleviate the selfish interests of individuals, or a group, at the expense of the nation.