The study is an action research that undertook a needs analysis and assessment prior to the development of a learning material for Igbo L2 learners at the Upper Basic Level I (JssI). It is helpful to understand learners’ needs and get data from them before any learning material could be developed. It is also necessary to know what the learners’ objectives are, their needs, interests, expectations, background experiences in order to develop the material that would meet the needs of the learners. This study discusses the importance of knowing learners’ needs and to use same as a starting points in designing a learning material for them. The study is a descriptive survey research design that used questionnaires, Oral and written Igbo tests (OWIT) to elicit vital information from the respondents about their age, ethnic group, first language spoken, their level of competence in Igbo language, purposes for learning Igbo, situations for Igbo language use, language skills which learners most wish to develop and finally, the communicative activities they should be able to perform in Igbo language. The above information from the needs analysis and assessment guided the researcher in developing a learning material that is responsive to the needs and aspirations of learners of Igbo as a second Nigerian Language.
Keywords: Communicative Activities, Igbo L2 learners, language skills, material development, needs assessment
