NameError – function doesn't recognize imported modules

[buran]

1. as asked by @ndc85430 - why would you import like this in the first place?
2. you are right - it's a scope issue. that's one of the reasons why the recommended way for imports is at the top of the module

def spam():
    import os
    print(os.getcwd())

spam()
print(os.getcwd())

3. if you really, really, really need to do something like this - don't use eval or exec. use importlib modue

import importlib

def bulk_import(*modules):
    return (importlib.import_module(some_module) for some_module in modules)
    
os, datetime = bulk_import("os", 'datetime')
print(os.getcwd())