Nationwide Named "Official Insurance Provider" of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association

Multi-Year Agreement Helps Promote Educational Excellence and Enhances Career
Opportunities for Students
COLUMBUS, Ohio--(Business Wire)--
Nationwide, one of the country`s largest insurance, financial services and
investment management organizations, announced today an agreement to become the
"Official Insurance Provider" of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic
Association (CIAA). This is a multi-year agreement that includes Nationwide
serving as presenting sponsor of the CIAA Football Championship Game,
sponsorship of the CIAA Men`s Tournament Most Valuable Player Trophy, and as a
Corporate Sponsor of all sixteen CIAA Conference Championships.

"We are excited about the connection of these two brands, which are committed to
educational excellence and which build future leaders," said John Aman,
associate vice president of Strategic Partnerships for Nationwide. "Our
relationship with the CIAA is another demonstration of our support to local
communities and an opportunity to engage with several historically black
colleges and universities," Aman says.

Under the terms of the agreement, Nationwide will receive exclusive branding
opportunities including signage, and on-field/on-court promotions. In addition,
Nationwide will support the CIAA Scholarship Fund each year for the multi-year
agreement, participate in the CIAA Tournament Fan Experience, and hold on-site
job fairs on all CIAA school campuses to focus on career opportunities at
Nationwide.

"The CIAA is excited to welcome Nationwide to this greater level of partnership
and the creation of recruitment opportunities for students of our member
institutions," said CIAA Commissioner Leon G. Kerry. "Relationships like this
are important to the continued growth of the conference while supporting the
academic missions of our member institutions," Kerry says.

The sponsorship also includes advertising in all CIAA televised events,
inclusive of the Men`s Basketball Tournament on ESPN Classic.

Competition, celebrations, celebrities, entertainment, exhibitions-for the more
than 160,000 attendees-the CIAA is non-stop excitement on a world-class level.

"We believe our sponsorship is a way to connect with the long-standing history
and heritage that others have seen in the 96 year existence of the CIAA," says
Aman.

About the CIAA

The CIAA was founded in 1912 and is based in Hampton, Virginia. The CIAA is one
of America's oldest conferences and is made up of colleges and universities
situated along the Eastern Seaboard. The 2008 CIAA Tournament had a $31 million
economic impact in Charlotte, North Carolina and helped the CIAA raise over $2
million in scholarship dollars for its member institutions.

About Nationwide

Nationwide, based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest diversified insurance
and financial services organizations in the world, with more than $161 billion
in assets. Nationwide ranks #108 on the Fortune 500 list. The company provides a
full range of insurance and financial services, including auto insurance,
motorcycle insurance, boat insurance, homeowners insurance, life, farm,
commercial insurance, administrative services, annuities, mortgages, mutual
funds, pensions, long-term savings plans and health and productivity services.
For more information, visit www.nationwide.com.

Nationwide, Nationwide Insurance, the Nationwide framemark and On Your Side are
federally registered service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company.© 2008
Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company.

Nationwide
Bob Cunningham, 614-249-3091
cunninb1@nationwide.com
or
Jeffrey McLeod, 757-865-0071
jeffreywmcleod@aol.com

Copyright Business Wire 2009