Faith and cybersecurity
Earlier this summer, Boston College hosted the seventh annual Boston Conference on Cyber Security, featuring FBI Deputy Director Paul M. Abbate as the keynote speaker. Before Abbate outlined the agency's work to address the heightened range of malicious cyber actors threatening U.S. economic and security over the past two years, a young, soft-spoken, Black Jesuit priest delivered the invocation to open the sold-out convening. His words touched on the scope of concerns that have accompanied advancements in today's digital ecosystem.
“In a world where technology has become the backbone of our interconnected society, the challenges we face in securing our digital landscapes are ever present,” said Fr. Collins C. Obidiagha, S.J., a visiting scholar in Boston College’s Cybersecurity Policy and Governance program at the Woods College of Advancing Studies.
“With each passing day, the threats we encounter evolve, becoming more sophisticated and relentless. We ask God to give us the courage to draw upon the values that guide our work: Integrity, vigilance, and resilience. We ask for the grace to embrace the spirit of continuous learning as we navigate the ever-changing threat landscape, adapt to new technologies, and anticipate emerging risks.
“May we find inspiration in the pursuit of excellence, leveraging our skills and expertise to safeguard the digital ecosystem that underpins our modern lives. May this gathering serve as a catalyst for innovation, driving us closer to the solutions we seek for the greater glory of God and humanity. Let us gather the wisdom and insight to shape a more secure and trusted cyberscape. With gratitude for the opportunity to convene here today, let us embark on this conference with open minds, collaborative spirit, and a shared dedication to securing our digital world.”
In many ways, Fr. Obidiagha’s opening prayer provides a narrative of his own lifelong learning in service to God. Born in Lagos, Nigeria, the onetime altar server discovered in high school that he had both “a passion to be a priest,” along with a deep interest and aptitude for technology. Initially trained on desktop publishing and design, he earned a computer engineering diploma from Breakthrough Computer College, and served as a peer educator and computer instructor at Nigeria’s Development Research and Action Network.
“I started with computer basics, and found myself frequently serving as a mobile engineer, fixing other people’s technology problems,” he said. “Eventually, I asked myself, `How can I apply this God-given talent for the benefit of others?’”
Collins Obidiagha, S.J.: "I asked myself, `How can I apply this God-given talent for the benefit of others?’”
What followed was a succession of computing roles and responsibilities, with additional training interspersed, that has built and expanded his technological experience, while merging his vocation and avocation. Although Fr. Obidiagha had never met a Jesuit, he noted that they are very well regarded in Lagos, and universally known as intellectuals who love to teach. He entered the Jesuit novitiate in Benin City in 2007 (“This is where I belong!”), spending two years as the network administrator for the community’s computer lab. He then earned a B.A., with honors, in philosophy and humanities from the University of Zimbabwe in 2013.
After attending the Cisco Networking Academy, Fr. Obidiagha served as IT administrator and head of the Information and Technology Communications department at Jesuit Memorial College, a Catholic secondary school in Mbodo-Aluu, Nigeria, followed by two years as director of communications and computer networks engineer at the North-West Africa Province (ANW) of the Society of the Jesus Curia in Lagos. He also earned an advanced diploma in computer software engineering from the National Institute of Information Technology in 2016.
As his avocational resume grew, the critical steps toward achieving his vocational calling ensued. He was ordained a deacon in March 2019 at Hekima University College, a Jesuit school of theology in Nairobi, followed by his July ordination as a Jesuit priest. Nearly simultaneously, he received a B.A. in theology from Nairobi’s Catholic University of Eastern Africa.
Successive part-time stints followed: as a computer network engineer and IT consultant at Mother Teresa Medical Centre in Lagos, the ANW Province, St. Francis Secondary School in Lagos, and Maria Belavenne’s Catholic College in Ota, Nigeria. After serving as the assistant director and information communication technology administrator at the Arrupe Jesuit Institute in Ghana, Fr. Obidiagha left the African continent last year to begin an onsite master’s degree program in cybersecurity at Jesuit Fordham University in New York—his first U.S. visit. He expects to graduate in May 2024.
“Fordham’s cybersecurity program is very `hands-on,’ forensically focused,” said Fr. Obidiagha, who has completed two semesters there. “In contrast, BC’s program has a policy, governance, and law concentration. Combined, it’s an ideal balance.”
Kevin R. Powers, founder and director of BC’s Master of Science in Cybersecurity Policy and Governance Program, and an assistant professor of the practice at BC Law School and Carroll School of Management, characterized Fr. Obidiagha as a cyber expert, who is “stepping up our game.”
“Fr. Obidiagha has been a welcome addition to our cybersecurity team this summer,” said Powers, who is overseeing the visiting Jesuit's practicum. “He already has a keen understanding of what’s needed to proactively protect organizations from today’s cyber threats on the technical side. Through his work at BC, he’ll have a better understanding of how cybersecurity is not just a technology issue, but a business/financial risk concern that involves a holistic, interdisciplinary approach across every organization.”
Fr. Obidiagha’s tasks this summer included developing a potential curriculum for a cybersecurity certificate program for BC's new Messina College.
“I’m proposing a nine-course syllabus, five of which are `hands on’ experiences,” he said. “When completed, the student would be eligible to work in any of the cybersecurity domains. I believe the learners will be very excited about this program, and it will draw prospective students to Messina College.”
After earning his master’s degree, where does he see his priestly computer life heading?
“If my provincial approves, I’d like to earn a Ph.D. in cybersecurity,” said Fr. Obidiagha, who plans to return to Africa. “I’d like to publish and add knowledge to the field, but also bring that knowledge and expertise to the continent to help secure our systems.”