After months of manual counting, the final result of the grain counters of Yauri in Kebbi State is finally out. The town played host to people from parts of Nigeria and other countries when it was perceived as weird that a group of youths are counting millet to ascertain how many are in a 100kg bag.
A mere friendly argument by some boys at Kangungu area of Sarkin Yaki quarters whether millet in a 100kg bag was more or less the population of Nigeria led to this.
The leader of the group and chairman of the millet counting committee, Ahmad Sarkin Yaki Yauri said when it all began, he received calls from China, USA, Britain and Niger Republic where people wanted to know about the methods and are eager to know the result.
According to him, committees were formed with four counters, two collectors and four watchers whose duty was to see that the counted millets are double-checked.
Finally, the number of millet in a 100kg bag is “officially” known and it not more than the population of Nigeria. A professor of Hausa Culture, Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto, Aliyu Bunza, who made the announcement, said the number of millet in a 100kg bag is 11,979,868. He made the announcement on behalf of the millet counters while reviewing a pamphlet to mark the declaration of the figures at the Emir’s palace in Yauri.
He said their exploration was an act of industry which could assist the nation to appreciate the essence of effective planning and doggedness in achieving a common cause.
He commended the youth over the exercise, saying they embarked on the task not because they were idle as many of them are educated and gainfully employed.
While extolling the virtues of millet, Professor Bunza explained that it was the first grain to be discovered by the Hausa man and no other Hausa recipe would be complete without a portion of the grain.
Speaking during the announcement, the Kebbi State Commissioner for Information, Muhammed Gado Marafa, said the state would offer N500,000 to purchase the bag of the counted millet.
In his remark the Emir of Yauri, Dr. Muhammad Zayyanu Abdullahi, said he was particularly delighted that the counting exercise has brought Kebbi and Yauri into the limelight as world attention was focused on the town since the exercise started.
The royal father enjoined youths in Kebbi and the nation to emulate the creativity of the counters.
“What they did has not been done anywhere before. It is a plus for Yauri that is known for its agricultural potentials and activities. We will leverage on the achievements to boost our farming prowess,” the emir said.
Speaking to our correspondent, the youth leader and Chairman of the millet counting committee said he was happy to have led a group of youth to embark on the activity which has brought the world’s attention to the state.
“Nobody on record has done what we did. I’m happy over what it has brought to Yauri,” he noted.
