A Medway councillor has a particularly serious reason for raising money to restore a dilapidated school in her homeland of Nigeria.

Gloria Opara wants to improve the poor conditions and standard of learning in an area where vulnerable children are at risk of being radicalised by Islamic fundamentalists.

Cllr Opara, who was elected to represent Princes Park ward in May, is aiming to raise £50,000 to repair the secondary school in Owerri and provide it with a library and science laboratory.

The mother-of-four said: “Kids who have poor education in Nigeria are at extreme risk of being recruited by terror groups such as Boko Haram and this fundraiser is in place to ensure that high-risk children have better futures and prevent radicalisation among them.

“This is not just about collecting money, it is about raising awareness of what is happening in Nigeria.

“Children who are not engaged in education are open to these groups. There are a very high number of children not in school. And if they are out on the streets sellings things, with no parent visible, they are literally picked up from the streets”

“Children who are not engaged in education are open to these groups. There are a very high number of children not in school. And if they are out on the streets sellings things, with no parent visible, they are literally picked up from the streets.”

Cllr Opara, who teaches IT at Rainham Mark Grammar School, was told about the school when she went to Africa in October 2014.

She said: “I nearly cried when I saw the appalling condition it was in.

“The roof was off in parts and there was green mould in the building.

“Yet these children wanted to learn and that’s what inspired me.

“It’s all very well having books but if you have nowhere to put them what’s the use?”

Boko Haram, whose name roughly translates to “Western religion is forbidden” is based in north-east Nigeria and has alleged links with al-Qaeda.

An estimated one million children have been forced out of school as a result of violent attacks by Boko Haram in Nigeria and its neighbouring countries, according to Unicef,

Its ongoing terror campaign has led to the closure of more than 2,000 schools in Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon.

Cllr Opara’s first fundraising event was a charity dinner at Lordswood Leisure Centre to celebrate her 50th birthday. She she also hopes to get pupils at Rainham Mark involved.