Oprah Winfrey to close South African leadership academy for girls at the end of the 2027 academic year
Oprah Winfrey announced that the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls (OWLAG) will close its doors at the end of the 2027 academic year. The boarding school, located near Johannesburg, was established by Winfrey in 2007 after she was inspired by conversations with Nelson Mandela regarding the transformative power of education for young women. As per the original agreement, the 52-acre campus will be handed over to the Gauteng Department of Education. While the school will close, Winfrey intends to continue her educational mission by funding a national scholarship program for academically talented girls across South Africa. Current students will receive uninterrupted financial and academic support until they graduate. Since its opening, the academy has produced over 1,000 graduates who have become doctors, lawyers, and engineers. Although the school faced some early scrutiny regarding its lavish facilities and a 2010 acquittal of a dormitory matron on abuse charges, it remains a landmark institution for underprivileged girls.