Stanley Azubike, Galaxy Music Awards Convener Is Always Proud Of Port Harcourt.
According to him, “Alot of people think I am a rich kid” He said jokingly and described abit how growing up in the trenches was like. “When I was running Galaxy360 Media at the time I was still living
Stanley Azubike’s story is such an inspiring tale. We sat next to each other on a dim colored sofa during the evening and we discussed at length. I perceived his passion strongly, looked him straight in the eye and connected soul to soul with his flawless selflessness towards creatives. How he brings the people along and still loves to have a happy life out of everything he creates.
For ambition, his plate is brimful. For dreams, he has been chasing them squarely. Taking the journey a step at a time. He is full of energy and takes pride in the city that raised him. Although, he is a native of Igbo. While, his story is very genuine and each word he lashes out from narrating a particular experience, you feel it either reciporating with a smile or you’d become all-inclusive with sizable surprises.
Stanley is come of age yet, he hasn’t had breaks from dreaming bigger. He points Ayo Animashun, Nigerian media behemoth and the founder of the prestigious Nigerian Headies Award show. Also the convener of Nigerian Queen as those he loves to always be around. “Ayo Animashun is my mentor” He reveals. While he admits to love the thought process of Nigerian Queen convener Kelvin Joseph Amroma, whose input within his life generally has been incredible.
Stanley Azubike, 30 currently, and he lived in Diobu Emenike street, Port Harcourt with his family at the time. According to him, “Alot of people think I am a rich kid” He said jokingly and described abit how growing up in the trenches was like. “When I was running Galaxy360 Media at the time I was still living in Diobu” He becomes introspective. Explaining a few experiences that has transpired in his 3 decade life spawn.
While he forges ahead envisioning the bigger picture. The past has been full of several experiences for him within the media and entertainment sector which he has found himself in from 2013 to date. In 2012, he graduated from Imo State University. While he was in school, he was amongst those young undergraduate that pioneered a media platform within school campus famed as “Student Voice” at the time. Amongst his colleagues in college and also being a contributing factor within the group that developed the student campus media platform. He was the official sports columnist. Stanley is an ardent football lover and the intersection with his unstoppable drive for media and entertainment is what he finds hard to ultimately break down.
Prior to his Nigerian Youth Service Corps during 2014 in Kogi. His international debut publication at the time was for Big Brother Africa consigned with News Watch Mag where his late Father Godfrey Azubike, worked as a virtual journalist. In 2013, he began his own Magazine publication tagged “Galaxy360 Mag” with a debut cover issue featuring notable Nigerian actor Mr. Ibu. In 2014, he began the official distribution of Galaxy360 Mag publication within Nigeria.
2015, the media journey officially kicked off for Stanley Azubike where himself and team rebranded Galaxy360 Mag tabloid to fully become a media entity. Within Port Harcourt, the company hosted Red Carpet shows, also was a part of those media agents that worked during Chronicles of Ushbebe around the same year. On his team of five, including himself he mentioned names like Ben, Charles, Stanley his name sake as he recounts. “Mekus was our cinematographer and that was it” He explained. “We started. The passion was there but the sustainability became wanting” He said with an etch in his head. He was reminiscent of that moment. It was around 2016.
During events within Port Harcourt, he met other top notch media pioneers like Sam Bass Films, Cleanhouse Africa and more. All of this broadened his scope and community by assisting him to create powerful relationships within the industry. By now you should understand how good relationship is the highest currency beyond Dollar that consistently cripples Nigerian Naira. “In 2016, we encountered a huge set back and then it affected our team at the time” He said sadly. “Everyone had to leave after the negative incident. Our company was robbed. Our equipments, alot happened. After that tragedy I was at my lowest and you know, everyone was looking for greener pastures” Stanley revealed.
During that same year 2016/17 Galaxy360 Media became branded as a digital magazine where they covered stars like Mr. Eazi, Marvis former Big Brother Naija Housemate, Ric Hassani, Okiemute and more. In 2018, he had a consign with the popularly known prominent Nigerian award show brand The Headies. Where his company reported with footages and literally, the experience from the award show insipired The GMA’s after his cousin admonished that he can also bring such a fit home. All of that gave birth to the renowed Nigerian growing Award show brand — Galaxy Music Awards.
Around 2018, after certain experiences he gained from the Headies he felt the need to bring such back home to Port Harcourt and since then meeting other creative minds like Goodluck Azunwena, Tesan, Speech Horsfall, Churchill Eneh, an idiosyncratic event manager within Port Harcourt. He introduced Stanley to other creative top tier creatives within Port Harcourt arts industry like Isaac Utere popularly known as Media Works amongst others. The brand (GMAs) has been soaring from then to date.
In his words, “GMAs has 10-year vision of being a Pan African award show” He said very confidently without any trace of doubt. “It is like a Galaxy of stars” He explained. “There is room for everyone to shine” Stanley concluded. While his coasts within the media stratosphere keeps on expanding and gaining larger traction. His long and standing experience within local media and entertainment sphere has been established him as one who also looks forward to exploring more. He buys the idea of collaboration with the best minds to create something of significance. While he believes strongly in the glory down south within Nigeria. Also, he intends bridging the gap across south east and south south. According to him “Galaxy Extreme, a broadcasting media network that is currently on the pipeline. A platform that would air Galaxy Music Award show on mainstream cable network and apart from that, we would be playing 70% of South South and South Eastern contents on the channel” He tells Port Harcourt Gist established via Facebook.
For Stanley Azubike, dreamers should keep on dreaming. While he loves the city that made him. He has also travelled to explore other cities. Both locally and internationally, there is no place like home. He commends Port Harcourt lifestyle, the culture from our food down to our unique fashion and cultural components that makes us who we are. He also gives credits to his parents that trained him in the right manner confessing boldly that it is what has distinguished him ultimately. In Diobu, he had the opportunity to become a cultist, a criminal and so forth yet the guidance of his parents played a very vital role. He also recounts his most embarrassing moments living at Diobu, we laughed through those rough times. He narrated how a member of his team was cut up in trouble and was injured. He said others as well.
Stanley Azubike also adviced other Port Harcourt creatives to keep it pushing and tells them to retain their originality because it is what makes us peculiar. It stands us out from other cities both within Nigeria and internationally. Finally, Galaxy Music Awards “Colors Of The South” Edition 2022 would hold this December 7th, at Aztech Arcum Event center and also would air live on DSTV.