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                      SUPPLEMENT DATED JANUARY 8, 2001, TO

                        PROSPECTUS DATED MAY 1, 2000, FOR

           MODIFIED SINGLE PREMIUM DEFERRED VARIABLE ANNUITY CONTRACTS

                                    ISSUED BY

                        NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

                                   THROUGH ITS

                         NATIONWIDE VARIABLE ACCOUNT - 9

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.


APO-4197-8



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