After nearly two decades of transforming the lives of young women in South Africa, media entrepreneur and philanthropist Oprah Winfrey has announced that the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls will close at the end of the 2027 academic year.
The decision marks the end of one chapter in one of Africa’s most recognized education initiatives while opening another focused on expanding access to quality education through scholarships.
According to a statement released by the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy Foundation, the boarding school campus near Johannesburg will be handed over to Gauteng education authorities in line with the original agreement established when the institution was founded.
Students who have not completed their education by the time the academy closes will receive full scholarships to continue their studies at other leading schools across South Africa.
The academy was established after Oprah Winfrey met former South African President and anti apartheid icon Nelson Mandela in 2002.
Inspired by their discussions about education and opportunity, she invested approximately $40 million to create a world class learning environment for academically gifted girls from disadvantaged communities.
Since opening its doors in 2007, more than 1,000 young women have graduated from the academy. Many have gone on to become doctors, lawyers, engineers, artists, executives and entrepreneurs, demonstrating the long term impact of investing in education.
Winfrey said the institution was always intended to serve a broader purpose beyond its physical campus.
“The dream was never simply to build a school. It was to invest in the limitless potential of young women. That mission does not end with one campus. It continues in every girl whose future can be transformed through education.”
She added that the next phase of the foundation’s work will focus on providing scholarships that enable academically talented girls from communities across South Africa to attend leading schools.
“I am 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,” she said.
The announcement has generated widespread discussion online, with speculation emerging about the reasons behind the closure.
However, a public relations consultant representing the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy Foundation dismissed claims that the decision was linked to mismanagement.
Instead, the foundation emphasized that the transition aligns with its long term strategy of broadening educational opportunities beyond a single institution.
The Gauteng Department of Education also pledged to preserve the academy’s legacy after assuming responsibility for the campus.
The department said it remains committed to ensuring that the institution continues serving the people of Gauteng while honoring the vision on which it was established.
The future use of the campus has not yet been announced.
The academy attracted international attention when it opened because of its premium facilities, including theatres, a yoga studio and a beauty salon.
While some critics questioned whether the investment could have benefited more students through a wider education program, supporters argued that the school demonstrated what world class education could look like for young Africans regardless of their backgrounds.
The institution also faced challenges during its early years after allegations of abuse were made against a former staff member. The individual was later cleared of all charges.
Today, the academy has 281 students enrolled and continues to be regarded as one of the continent’s most influential education initiatives.
For African business leaders, philanthropists and policymakers, the academy’s transition highlights an important shift in education investment. Rather than concentrating resources in a single institution, scholarship driven models are increasingly being viewed as scalable approaches capable of reaching talented students across multiple communities.
As the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy prepares to close its doors, its legacy will be measured not only by the campus it leaves behind but by the thousands of lives it has helped shape and the opportunities it will continue creating for future generations of young African women.
