Abdou Moumouni University

Abdou Moumouni University
Université Abdou Moumouni de Niamey
Former names
 University of Niamey
Established 1974
Type Public
Affiliation Government of Niger
Ministry of Education
Students ~8000
Location Niamey, Niamey Capitol District
Campus Main: Harobanda Quarter
BP 237/10896 Niamey, Niger
Website uam.refer.ne

Abdou Moumouni University (fr. Université Abdou Moumouni de Niamey, UAM) -- formerly University of Niamey from 1974-1994—is the only public university in Niger and is thus directly controlled by the Ministry of Education. Located on the right bank of the Niger River in Niamey, its students and faculty have historically been involved in protest movements in the capital.

Location

Located in the capital of Niamey, the university had a total enrollment of around 8,000 in early 2007, 7,000 as of June 2006, which was a growth of 1000 over the previous decade.[1]

Name

The university is named after former Professor Abdou Moumouni Dioffo, a Nigerien educator, intellectual, and president of the University. From 1974 to 1994, the institution was named the University of Niamey. The University was an outgrowth of the 1971 Centre d'Enseignement Superieur, which consolidated a number of post secondary and trade schools founded in the years following independence. Under French colonial rule, there were no post secondary institutions in Niger.

Structure

The Université Abdou Moumouni includes a wide array of public institutions. These include:[2][3]

Lamordé University Hospital is an affiliated hospital where many faculty and students practice medicine.

IUTs

The University Institutes of Technology "Instituts Universitaires de Technologie - IUT)" are tech schools in three regional capitals of Tahoua, Maradi, and Zinder created in October 2006, and operating from 2007-2008. It 2009 it was decided in the National Assembly that the three campuses would be integrated into the Université Abdou Moumouni.[7] The IUT's offer a degree, called the "Diplome Universitaire De Technologie" - DUT, in a one to two year program for students who have completed a Baccalaureate or equivalent. Programs vary by location:[8]

Location: Maradi. Opened: October 2007.
Location: "Commune Tahoua I". Opened: November 2008.[9]
Location: Zinder. Opened: November 2008.[10]

Protests

1990 massacre

On 9 February 1990, 20 students in a peaceful march across the Kennedy Bridge into the Niamey City Centre were killed by police and armed forces. This event, known as the Kennedy Bridge Massacre has since been seen as pivotal in bringing about popular alienation from the Government of General Ali Saibou.

2006 protests

In June 2006, the University temporarily closed due to protests and rioting. The Union des étudiants nigériens de l’Université de Niamey (UENUN) called a general strike against the alleged withholding of scholarships as well as the deterioration of living and working conditions at the University. Students clashed with police, lit 10 vehicles on fire, while police used tear gas and batons the students to prevent them from crossing the Kennedy Bridge, seriously injuring 10.

References

  1. ↑ See Decalo, and L'université de Niamey en décomposition, Radio France International, Marion Urban 30 April 2007.]
  2. ↑ Informations et ressources scientifiques sur le développement des zones arides et semi-arides, Université Abdou Moumouni.
  3. ↑ IAU, World Higher Education Database (WHED), UNESCO. Niger - Education system INSTITUTION TYPES & CREDENTIALS
  4. ↑ L'UNIVERSITÉ ABDOU MOUMOUNI DE NIAMEY: DÉPARTEMENT DE GÉOGRAPHIE
  5. ↑ RESADEP
  6. ↑ Sustainable Use of Natural vegetation in West Africa (SUN), European Union
  7. ↑ Poursuite des travaux de la 1ère session ordinaire de l'Assemblée nationale : deux projets de loi du secteur de l'éducation adoptés par les élus. Zabeirou Moussa. Le Sahel. 13 May 2009
  8. ↑ UNIVERSITAIRES DE TECHNOLOGIE CURRICULUM I.U.T. DE Maradi Rapport final. REPUBLIQUE DU NIGER MINISTERE DES ENSEIGNEMENTS SECONDAIRE ET SUPERIEUR DE LA RECHERCHE ET DE LA TECHNOLOGIE INSTITUTS. Septembre 2005.
  9. ↑ Inauguration de l'Institut Universitaire de Technologie (IUT) de Tahoua • Une nouvelle dynamique dans le secteur de l'enseignement supérieur. Le Sahel, Moutari Souley Onep, Tahoua/Agadez. 3 November 2008.
  10. ↑ Ouverture, hier, de l'Institut Universitaire de Technologie (I.U.T) de Zinder : Un nouveau tournant dans le secteur de l'enseignement Supérieur au Niger. Abdou Saïdou, ONEP Zinder-Diffa. 29 Octobre 2008.

Coordinates: 13°30′05″N 2°05′55″E / 13.50139°N 2.09861°E