South African girls school opened by Oprah Winfrey to close after nearly 2 decades

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A school opened by Oprah Winfrey will close after 2027.

The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa opened nearly two decades ago.

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The school is transitioning its operations back to local officials after 2027.

A representative for Winfrey says she'll focus on an "expanded" scholarship program for girls there.

"The dream was never simply to build a school. It was to invest in the limitless potential of young women," Winfrey said in a statement Wednesday. "That mission doesn't end with one campus. It continues in every girl whose future can be transformed through education. I'm 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."