Nearly 20 years after founding the academy, Oprah Winfrey has announced that she will close her leadership academy for girls in South Africa at the end of the 2027 academic year.
In a press release, the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls (OWLAG), a boarding school near Johannesburg, stated that it will hand over the campus to local education authorities in line with the original agreement made when the institution opened.
Winfrey founded the school to provide quality education for academically gifted girls from disadvantaged communities. 
The foundation also stated that it will award full scholarships to students who do not complete their studies before the school closes, allowing them to continue their education at other institutions.
After meeting former South African President and anti-apartheid advocate Nelson Mandela in 2002, Winfrey established the academy in 2007.
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The announcement generated speculation on social media that mismanagement forced the academy to close. However, OWLAG’s public relations consultant dismissed the claims.
The foundation said Winfrey plans to continue supporting girls’ education through a national scholarship programme. The initiative will help academically gifted students from underserved communities attend top schools across South Africa.
“The dream was never simply to build a school,” said Winfrey, via a press release.
“It was to invest in the limitless potential of young women. That mission doesn’t end with one campus. It continues in every girl whose future can be transformed through education.
“I’m excited that this next chapter will allow us to reach even more young women across South Africa and continue the promise that began more than 20 years ago.”
The new scholarship programme will expand access to quality education for more young women across the country. Through the initiative, Winfrey aims to build on the academy’s legacy and create opportunities for talented students from underserved communities.
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