Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) has announced that applications for the Lagos CARES grant will officially open on Monday, May 18, 2026, giving business owners and entrepreneurs across Lagos another opportunity to access government support.
The announcement was made on Friday through the agency’s official social media platforms, where LSETF confirmed that eligible applicants can begin the application process once the portal opens.
According to the agency, the grant is targeted at Lagos residents running businesses and entrepreneurs seeking financial support under the Lagos CARES programme.
LSETF explained that individuals who have never received any grant before are eligible to apply. The agency also stated that applicants who previously benefited from a credit grant or IT grant may still qualify for the programme.
However, the agency noted that beneficiaries who already received the operation grant in the previous application phase will not be allowed to reapply.
In the notice shared by the agency, LSETF said: “Applications for the Lagos CARES Grant officially open from Monday, May 18th, 2026.”
It added: “If you’ve never received any grant before, or you previously received a credit or IT grant, you may be eligible to apply.”
The Lagos CARES programme is part of broader support initiatives aimed at helping Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and reducing the economic pressure faced by small business owners in the state.
The latest announcement is expected to attract strong interest from entrepreneurs, startups, traders and business owners across Lagos looking for financial support to grow their operations.
LSETF has not yet released full application guidelines or the official application portal link, but interested applicants are expected to monitor the agency’s official channels ahead of the opening date.
The Lagos State Employment Trust Fund has continued to roll out different empowerment and funding programmes designed to support entrepreneurship, job creation and small business growth in the state.
