For nearly 20 years, Oprah Winfrey’s leadership academy for girls has stood as one of South Africa’s best-known education projects, helping young women from low-income families earn opportunities that once seemed out of reach.

That chapter is now drawing to a close. Winfrey has announced that the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls will close at the end of the 2027 academic year, bringing an end to a school that has produced more than 1,000 graduates since opening in 2007.

The decision does not mark the end of her investment in education. Instead, the media entrepreneur and philanthropist said her foundation will shift its focus to a nationwide scholarship program designed to support more academically talented girls across South Africa.

The move reflects a broader effort to extend the foundation’s reach beyond a single campus while continuing the mission that inspired the academy after Winfrey met former South African President Nelson Mandela more than two decades ago.

A new Chapter for the education project

“The dream was never simply to build a school,” Winfrey said in a statement. “It was to invest in the limitless potential of young women.”

She said that vision would continue through scholarships that will help more girls attend leading schools across South Africa.

Students who will not complete their education before the academy closes will receive full scholarships to finish their studies elsewhere.

Foundation rejects online speculation

The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy Foundation rejected online claims that the closure was linked to financial or management problems, saying the transition is part of the project’s long-term plan.

The Gauteng Department of Education said it would preserve the academy’s legacy after taking over the campus, adding that it remains committed to ensuring the institution continues serving learners.

A lasting legacy beyond one campus

The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls was established after Winfrey met Nelson Mandela in 2002 and opened its doors in 2007 following a $40 million investment.

The school was created to provide world-class education for academically gifted girls from disadvantaged communities, with graduates going on to careers in medicine, engineering, law, business and technology.

The academy currently enrolls 281 students. While the campus will close in 2027, Winfrey said the goal remains unchanged: giving more young women the opportunity to build brighter futures through education.