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                      SUPPLEMENT DATED AUGUST 13, 1996 TO
                       PROSPECTUS DATED MAY 1, 1996 FOR

                 INDIVIDUAL DEFERRED VARIABLE ANNUITY CONTRACTS

                                   ISSUED BY

                 NATIONWIDE LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY

                                  THROUGH ITS

                        NATIONWIDE VA SEPARATE ACCOUNT-C

This Supplement updates certain information contained in your Prospectus.

On page 8 of the Prospectus, the column headings for the Condensed Financial
Information are hereby amended to read as follows:




                Accumulation        Accumulation            Percent         Number of
                 Unit Value          Unit Value            Change in       Accumulation
               At Beginning            At End            Accumulation      Units At End
  Fund           of Period           of Period            Unit Value       Of The Period        Year

                                                                                 



Please keep this information with your Prospectus for future reference.