Media mogul and philanthropist Oprah Winfrey has announced plans to shut down the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls (OWLAG) in South Africa after two decades of operation.
Key Highlights
- Oprah Winfrey will close the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls after the 2027 academic year.
- The academy’s campus will be transferred to the Gauteng Department of Education.
- Oprah will fully fund the education of all remaining students until they graduate, including those who transfer to other schools.
- A new scholarship programme will replace the academy, enabling more girls across South Africa to access quality education.
- The scholarship initiative is expected to double the number of beneficiaries through partnerships with other schools.
According to Oprah Daily, the academy will officially close after the 2027 academic year, with the school campus to be handed over to South Africa’s Gauteng Department of Education in line with the original agreement established when the institution was founded.
The remaining students will complete their education without disruption, as Oprah has pledged to fully fund their tuition until graduation, even if they transfer to other top-tier schools.
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Although the academy is closing its doors, Oprah says her commitment to educating young women in South Africa is far from over. She will introduce a new scholarship programme that is expected to double the number of girls who can access quality education through partnerships with other schools.
Speaking about the decision, Oprah expressed pride in the academy’s graduates, many of whom have gone on to become lawyers, doctors, business leaders, artists, CEOs, digital creators, and mothers.
“The dream that began with one academy will now reach even farther, opening doors for even more young women across South Africa through scholarships and educational partnerships,” she said.
She added that her mission remains unchanged: to empower young women to transform their own lives and, in turn, shape the future of South Africa.
“That promise doesn’t end here. It just keeps growing,” Oprah concluded.
The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls was established in 2007 to provide quality education and leadership opportunities for academically gifted girls from disadvantaged backgrounds in South Africa. Its closure marks the end of an era while paving the way for a broader scholarship-based model aimed at reaching even more students.
