Beyond the Noise: What Osun’s Campaign Spending Reveals About Its Neglected Youth

 By Abioye Tosin Lawrence 

The hard-hitting truth few are willing to confront is this: the routine hiring of external artists, musicians, and entertainers to drive political campaigns in Osun State continues to sideline the very youth who are more than capable of delivering the same value, if not more.

This is not just a campaign strategy,  it is a reflection of misplaced priorities.

At a time when youth unemployment remains a pressing concern, when countless graduates roam the streets without opportunities, and when creative talents struggle to find visibility, it would be both strategic and responsible for political actors to invest in Osun’s own young people. 

Campaigns and electioneering periods present a unique opportunity to stimulate the local economy, empower creatives, and build lasting engagement.

Instead, what we often witness is a familiar pattern: the importation of big-name entertainers who command attention, draw crowds, and then leave, taking with them resources that could have strengthened the state’s internal economy.

If we truly expect young people to act responsibly, to reject crime, and to contribute meaningfully to society, then the system must also create pathways for them to thrive. What happens to the graphic designers, the web developers, the content creators, the local musicians, and the aspiring entrepreneurs within Osun? 

What happens to those with skill but without capital? To those with vision but without access?

When external acts are consistently prioritized, a dangerous message is sent, that local talent is secondary, that recognition must come from outside before it is valued at home.

Beyond the applause and the spectacle, we must ask: how are we nurturing the next generation? How are we giving voice to the unknown? How are we building a system where talent is not just celebrated during elections, but sustained beyond them?

This is a wake-up call.

Because when the music fades and the crowds disperse, it is not the visiting entertainers who will bear the consequences of economic hardship or policy failure. It is the local youth, the ones who remain, who endure, and who must navigate the realities of governance long after the campaign lights go out.

Osun must begin to look inward. The future of the state should not be outsourced.