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. 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. 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. The Université Abdou Moumouni includes a wide array of public institutions.