<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>497
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>l85765bbe497.txt
<DESCRIPTION>NATIONWIDE VL SEP ACCT C                 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 AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY

                                   THROUGH ITS

                        NATIONWIDE VL SEPARATE ACCOUNT-C


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-0155-7
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>