Media mogul and philanthropist Oprah Winfrey has announced that the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls (OWLAG) in South Africa will officially close after the 2027 academic year, bringing to an end two decades of providing quality education and leadership development to hundreds of young women.
The announcement marks the conclusion of one of Oprah’s most ambitious philanthropic projects, which was established in 2007 to provide academically gifted girls from disadvantaged backgrounds with access to world-class education.
However, while the physical campus will close, Oprah says her commitment to empowering young women in South Africa is far from over.
According to Oprah Daily, the academy’s mission will continue through a new scholarship programme expected to benefit even more girls across the country. More information about the academy can be found on Oprah Daily’s official website: https://www.oprahdaily.com/life/a/oprah-winfrey-leadership-academy-for-girls/.
READ ALSO: Actor Jared Leto Faces New Sexual Misconduct Allegations From Four Women
School to close after 20 years
Following the completion of the 2027 academic year, the academy’s campus will be handed over to the Gauteng Department of Education, in line with the original agreement signed when the school was established.
The transition will officially conclude the academy’s operations after twenty years of educating young women who have gone on to excel in various professions around the world.
Despite the closure, Oprah assured students and parents that those currently enrolled will complete their education without disruption.
Every remaining student will continue receiving full financial support until graduation.
Scholarship programme to replace academy
Rather than operating a single boarding school, Oprah’s foundation will redirect its resources into a broader scholarship initiative.
According to a representative for Oprah, the new programme is expected to double the number of girls who will benefit from educational opportunities compared to the academy model.
Instead of concentrating support on one campus, the scholarship initiative will fund students at leading schools across South Africa, expanding access to quality education for talented young women from disadvantaged communities.
The representative explained that the decision followed two decades of observing the academy’s success and determining that a scholarship-based approach could reach significantly more students.
Current students fully supported
Oprah’s team emphasized that the transition will not negatively affect any of the academy’s current learners.
The girls still enrolled at OWLAG will be transferred to other top-tier schools if necessary, with Oprah personally covering all tuition fees and educational expenses through to graduation.
This commitment ensures that no student will lose access to quality education because of the academy’s closure.
The move has been described as a restructuring rather than an end to Oprah’s educational mission in South Africa.
Oprah reflects on academy’s legacy
Speaking in a video shared by Oprah Daily, the 72-year-old media icon reflected on the remarkable achievements of the academy’s graduates.
“I am dazzled and in awe of them,” Oprah said.
Oprah Winfrey noted that former students have built successful careers across numerous industries, including business, medicine, law, technology, management, the arts and digital media.
According to Oprah, many graduates have become entrepreneurs, doctors, lawyers, artists, content creators, executives and mothers, demonstrating the lasting impact of the academy.
Expanding opportunities
While announcing the new direction, Oprah explained that the academy’s original dream had evolved into something much larger.
“The dream that began with one academy will now reach even farther,” she said.
She added that the scholarship programme and educational partnerships would open doors for many more young women throughout South Africa.
Rather than limiting opportunities to students admitted into one school, the new initiative will extend support across multiple educational institutions.
Commitment remains unchanged
Although the academy itself will close, Oprah Winfrey stressed that her purpose remains exactly the same.
She reiterated that her lifelong goal is to help young women discover their potential and become future leaders capable of transforming their communities.
“My mission remains to help young women discover their own power, transform their own lives, and in doing so, transform the future of South Africa,” she said.
She concluded by assuring supporters that the work was not ending.
“That promise doesn’t end here. It just keeps growing.”
Academy’s lasting impact
Since opening its doors in 2007, the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls has become one of Africa’s most recognised educational institutions.
Founded after Oprah pledged millions of dollars to improve educational opportunities for disadvantaged South African girls, the academy has produced graduates who have attended leading universities across South Africa, the United States and other countries.
Many former students have become role models in their own communities while continuing the academy’s tradition of leadership and service.
As the school prepares to close in 2027, its legacy appears set to continue through an expanded scholarship programme that could positively impact even more young women in the years ahead.
For Oprah Winfrey, the end of the academy represents not the conclusion of a dream, but the beginning of a new chapter focused on widening educational access and creating opportunities for future generations of South African girls.
