Universities and Colleges in Niger

Universities and Colleges in Niger offer scopes for higher studies to the residents of the land. When a country like Niger is poverty-stricken and clubbed with the backward countries of the world, higher education is extensively promoted for eradication of illiteracy from the land, which in turn, takes the nation towards enlightenment and economic prosperity.

University education in Niger can be regarded as the culminating point of higher studies in the country. The universities of Niger not only offer numerous scopes for learning to the aspirants, but they also bring out the potential talents within them. Among a handful of universities in Niger, mention may be made about a few prominent ones like the Abdou Moumouni University of Niamey and the Islamic University of Niger.

Founded in 1971, the Abdou Moumouni University offers education in five faculties, namely law, economics, natural sciences, social sciences and agronomy.

There is also a Centre of Excellence specializing in regional agronomy and a High School for Education here.

Scientific research programs are also facilitated in this university. The degrees awarded to the students at the termination of studies are equivalent to B.Sc and M.Sc.

The Islamic University of Niger is sponsored by the Organization of the Islamic Conference. It was first proposed in Pakistan’s Lahore in 1974 and approved at the conference in Sanaa, Yemen in 1984. It attained formal inauguration in November 1986. These Universities and Colleges in Niger are the main supports in promoting the best quality education on the land.

Islamic University of Niger

The establishment of Islamic University of Niger involved a handful of goals. It came into existence in accordance with a resolution adopted by the Second Islamic Summit Conference of the Kings, Heads of States and Governments organized on February 1974, in the Islamic Republic of Lahore in Pakistan.

Headquartered at Niger, the Islamic University of Niger was officially inaugurated in November 1986. Following are a few objectives which guide the movements and performances of this reputed university in Niger:

• Understanding the environmental needs of the Muslims and promote unity and brotherhood among them.
• Encourage sports, cultural and social activities in Niger.
• Renewing Islamic heritage in the African continent and help spreading it on a worldwide basis
• Help in molding the identity of Islam.
• Improve the living conditions of the Muslim communities and the Ummah on African mainland through the contributions of their own civilizations.
• Permit the students to obtain scientific and technological knowledge for the benefit of Islamic nations.
• Promotion of academic research works and examination of the social problems within the Islamic thought.
• Create suitable supports and the necessary means to postgraduate studies and higher education in all fields of scientific knowledge.
• Give special attention to Islamic studies, research and teaching as well as work towards the development of Arabic language.

Currently, the Islamic University in Niger comprises the following faculties:

• Department of Postgraduate Studies
• Institute of Higher Education, Pedagogy and Teachers Training
• African Centre for the Revalorization of the Islamic Heritage
• IQRA Centre for Technical and Vocational Training
• Faculty of Shari’a and Islamic Studies
• Women Collage for Islamic Studies and Arabic Language
• Faculty of Arabic Literature and Language

Schools in Niger

Schools in Niger are of diverse types, starting from primary to the secondary ones. The principal aim of the Schools in Niger is to educate the children from the grass root levels so that they can pursue higher education at later stages of their lives and participate in the overall growth and development of the nation. In fact, school education is of utmost importance in the country to abolish illiteracy and take the nation towards economic affluence.

Lycee La Fontaine is a French-speaking international school attached to the French Embassy, in the Niger capital of Niamey. Established in 1962, it had as many as 785 students and 53 teachers in the year 2005. This school also takes students from primary level to the “lycee” or high school levels for offering them the best possible education.

The Sahel Academy is another school in Niamey, worth mentioning. Occupying a total land area of 8.5 acres along River Niger, it is run by Serving in Mission (SIM) – a Christian organization.

It is known to impart education to missionary children only. Presently during the 2006-2007 academic years, Sahel Academy has 80 students from 14 different countries in K-12 grades and 22 teaching staffs belonging to 4 different nations.

In fact, Education in Niger is being promoted with the help of necessary steps to improve the conditions of both primary and secondary schools to the extent that the children find the school environment appealing and exciting, which may motivate them to attend them on a disciplinary basis. This is perhaps the only means to reduce illiteracy rate to the lowest, and even eradicate it completely.