Dr. Bella Bello Bitugu is an educationist, sociologist, developmentalist and a social entrepreneur. After obtaining his first degree in Ghana, he went to Austria and studied for his Masters and PHD at the University of Innsbruck where he later lectured for 15 years.
Dr. Bitugu is an expert in development through sports, which uses the strength and power of sports to address development and other societal issues. Being one of the first Black referees in Austria and the first in Tyrol, Dr. Bitugu is involved in issues of racism, globalisation, and development. Until April 2012 he was the European coordinator of Sport for Development projects with Fair Play at the Vienna Institute for International Dialogue and Cooperation.
More recently, Dr. Bitugu has been selected by UNESCO to be part of the experts to prepare a strategy for adoption by African sports ministers on implementing quality physical education and sports. He is a member of the group of experts appointed by the Commonwealth in London to steer a strategy for all Commonwealth Nations on how to use sports to achieve the United Nation’s sustainable development goals.
He has consulted and continues to consult for numerous organisations in many European and African countries.
Dr. Bitugu has a passion for positive change and so decided to return home and join the process of change going on in his home country Ghana. Thus, from April 2012 to August 2013, Dr. Bitugu served as the country manager of Right To Play Ghana, a branch of Right To Play International which is the biggest sport for development organisation in the world operating in more than 20 countries.
Since October, 2013 Dr. Bitugu is the Director of the Sports Directorate of the University of Ghana, Legon.