<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>497
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>l85765ve497.txt
<DESCRIPTION>NATIONWIDE VLI SEP ACCT 4                497
<TEXT>

<PAGE>   1
                      SUPPLEMENT DATED JANUARY 8, 2001, TO

                        PROSPECTUS DATED MAY 1, 2000, FOR

      CORPORATE FLEXIBLE PREMIUM VARIABLE UNIVERSAL LIFE INSURANCE POLICIES

                                    ISSUED BY

                        NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

                                   THROUGH ITS

                       NATIONWIDE VLI SEPARATE ACCOUNT - 4

THIS SUPPLEMENT UPDATES CERTAIN INFORMATION CONTAINED IN YOUR PROSPECTUS. PLEASE
READ IT AND KEEP IT WITH YOUR PROSPECTUS FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.


Effective January 8, 2001, Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company will
become one of the subadvisers of the Nationwide Separate Account Trust -
Nationwide Small Company Fund. There is no change in the fund's objective as is
stated in the prospectus dated May 1, 2000.


VLOB-0154-8
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>