1
                        SUPPLEMENT DATED MAY 1, 1996 TO

                        PROSPECTUS DATED MAY 1, 1996 FOR

               FLEXIBLE PREMIUM VARIABLE LIFE INSURANCE POLICIES
                                   ISSUED BY

                       NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

                                  THROUGH ITS

                      NATIONWIDE VLI SEPARATE ACCOUNT - 2


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

THE INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE OF THE DREYFUS STOCK INDEX FUND IS HEREBY AMENDED AS
FOLLOWS:

The Dreyfus Stock Index Fund, is an open-end, non-diversified, management
investment company.  It was incorporated under Maryland law on January 24,
1989, and commenced operations on September 29, 1989.  The Dreyfus Corporation
("Dreyfus") serves as the Fund's manager, while Mellon Equity Associates, an
affiliate of Dreyfus, serves as the Fund's index manager.

Investment Objective:  To provide investment results that correspond to the
price and yield performance of publicly traded common stocks in the aggregate,
as represented by the Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price Index.  The
Fund is neither sponsored by nor affiliated with Standard & Poor's Corporation.