American media mogul Oprah Winfrey has announced that the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls (OWLAG) in South Africa will close at the end of the 2027 academic year, marking the end of nearly two decades of educating academically gifted girls from disadvantaged communities.
In a statement, Winfrey said the academy, located near Johannesburg, will hand over its campus to South African education authorities in accordance with the original agreement made when the school was established.
The academy currently has 281 students. Those who will not complete their studies before the closure will be transferred to other schools on full scholarships, ensuring they continue their education without disruption.
Winfrey founded the boarding school in 2007 after being inspired by a meeting with South Africa’s first democratically elected president, Nelson Mandela, in 2002. Her goal was to provide talented young women from underprivileged backgrounds with access to quality education and leadership opportunities.
Built at a cost of approximately $40 million, the academy has produced more than 1,000 graduates, many of whom have gone on to pursue university education and successful careers in South Africa and around the world.
