Perception of Clinical Medical Trainees on International Relocation from Nigeria (‘Japa’ Syndrome) after Graduation

Background: ‘Japa’ is a Yoruba colloquialism that describes the migration of Nigerians to other countries in search of a better quality of life. This trend is increasingly common among clinical trainees in Nigeria. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the perceptions and propensity to emigrate among trainees and identify the push–pull factors influencing emigration intentions. Materials and Methods: We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional survey of 1200 clinical trainees from four training institutions across three Southwest states (March–June 2024): 400 final-year medical students, 400 final-year nursing students and 400 medical interns/resident doctors. Data were collected with a structured questionnaire and analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 16.0. Results: Most respondents were aged <25 years (64.4%); females comprised 66.2%. Overall, 60.8% intended to relocate abroad immediately after training. Leading reasons included poor remuneration (45.9%), insecurity (24.2%) and inadequate equipment (18.9%). Conclusion: Given the high propensity to emigrate among trainees, urgent measures—improved remuneration, enhanced security and better healthcare infrastructure—are needed to mitigate brain drain.